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Book 













THE WORKS 



GEORGE HERBERT, 



IN PROSE AND VERSE. 



EDITED BY THE 



REV. ROBERT ARIS WILLMOTT, 



INCUMBENT OF BEAR WOOD. 



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. 



LONDON: 

GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND CO., 

FARRINODON STREET. 

1854. 






LONDON t 

Haddon, Brothers, and Co., Caftle Street; Finfbury. 



# 






TO 

WILLIAM COOPER, 

RECTOR OF RIPPINGALE, LINCOLNSHIRE : 
THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED 

BY HIS FRIEND, 

R. A. WILLMOTT. 



PREFACE. 



I am not aware that any Edition of Heroert's Poetry, 
or Profe, has hitherto appeared with Notes, or Illuf- 
trations. The prefent attempt to fupply that want, 
may, therefore, be received with fome forbearance and 
favour. I mould have rejoiced to track the poet's 
footfteps, into thofe ftill paths of theological learning, 
which he loved to frequent, and to have brought the 
torch of the Fathers to illuminate fome of his obfcurer 
allufions. — But the book was wanted, and time 
prefTed. The early fpelling has been generally re- 
tained, as harmonifing with the old-world found of 
the language, and the mellow colour of the thoughts. 
The Vandyck looks belt in its ancient frame. 

I will only add my obligation to that ftore-houfe 
of pleafant learning, " Notes and Queries," for one 
or two interefting commentaries on the Author ; and 



VI HERBERT S WORKS. 



now commit him to the welcome of the reader, in 
the affectionate words of Crafhaw, to a friend, two 
hundred years ago.* 

Know you, Faire, on what you look ; 

Divineft love lies in this book : 

Expe6Hng fire from your eyes, 

To kindle this his Sacrifice. 

When your hands untie thefe firings, 

Think you've an Angel by the wings. 

One that gladly will be nigh, 

To wait upon each morning figh. 

To flutter in the balmy air 

Of your well-perfumed Prayer. 

Thefe white plumes of his he'll lend you, 

Which every day to heaven will fend you : 

To take acquaintance of the fphere, 

And all the fmooth-faced kindred there. 

And though Herbert's name do owe 

Thefe devotions, Faireft $ know 

That while I lay them on the fhrine 

Of your white hand, they are mine. 

St. Catherine's, Bear Wood. 
Dec. 22, 1853. 

* Steps to the Temple, 1646. 






INTRODUCTION. 



When the vifitor to Cambridge enters the Ante- 
Chapel of Trinity College, he meets two objects of 
the deepeft intereft in Art and Science : the mar- 
vellous ftatue of Newton, and the fitting figure of 
Bacon. If he raife his eyes to the painted windows, a 
different train of thought is awakened. One group 
efpecially attracts and detains him. It is a fcene at 
Bethany in the houfe of that family whom Jefus loved ; 
among the company gathered around Him appears a 
face, familiar to moft ftudents of the fweet and ferious 
learning of the feventeenth century ; it is that of 
George Herbert, to whom, after fo many years, his 
own College has confecrated this memorial. 

The circumftances of his life are neither many, nor 
varied. He was born — one of ten children — April 3rd, 
1593, in the Caftle of Montgomery in Wales. He 
came of a bold and noble race. There is at Penfhurft 
a portrait of his brother, Lord Edward, painted by 



VI11 HERBERTS WORKS. 

Ifaac Oliver, which (hows a fwarthy countenance, 
with dark eyes and exceedingly black hair. The 
poet's father had the fame complexion; he died in 
1597, leaving George, in his fourth year, to the care of 
his mother. He remained, with two of his brothers, 
under a private tutor, until he was fent to Weftminfter 
School ; from whence, at the age of fifteen, he was 
elected to Trinity College, Cambridge, where his 
name appears among the Scholars, May 5, 1609. 
" In Cambridge we may find our George Herbert's 
behaviour to be fuch, that we may conclude, he con- 
fecrated the firft fruits of his early age to virtue, and 
a ferious ftudy of learning." So writes good Ifaak 
Walton. Nor is there reafon to doubt the affectionate 
panegyrift. Herbert's advance in academic rank was 
encouraging and rapid. Within two years after the 
taking of his Bachelor's degree, he was chofen a Fellow 
of the Society; and on the 21ft of October, 1619, 
he obtained the diftinguifhed poft of Public Orator, 
vacated by Sir Francis Netherfole, who was then 
politically employed on the Continent. It was an 
office, according to Fuller, of more honour than 
profit, the original falary being only forty millings 
a year. It dates its beginning from the early 
part of the 16th century, before which period rhe- 
torical aid was procured as it was wanted, the fcribe 
being paid by the letter. In Herbert's time the 
annual income was about thirty pounds. But the 
attractions of the Oratorfhip did not lie on its pecuniary 



INTRODUCTION. IX 

fide. It was a high road to court life. A former 
Orator, Sir Robert Naunton, had been made a Secre- 
tary of State, and Herbert cherifhed hopes of reaping a 
, fimilar reward. Barnabas Oley had heard that he 
might have obtained the fituation, but " that, like a 
genuine fon of Levi, he balked all fecular ways, faw 
neither father nor mother, child nor brother, faith nor 
friends, (fave in Chrift Jefus,) chofe the Lord for his 
fervice, and His fervice for employment." 

Walton gives a truer, though a lefs flattering ex- 
planation. a In this time of Mr. Herbert's attendance 
and expectation of fome good occafion to remove from 
Cambridge to Court, God, in whom there is an unfeen 
chain of caufes, did, in a fhort time, put an end to the 
lives of two of his moft obliging and moft powerful 
friends, Lodowick, Duke of Richmond, and James, 
Marquis of Hamilton ; and not long after him, King 
James died alfo, and with them all Mr. Herbert's court 
hopes, fo that he betook himfelf to a retreat from 
London to a friend in Kent, where he lived very pri- 
vately, and was fuch a lover of folitarinefs, he was 
judged to impair his health more than his ftudy had 
done." Some earnefl: of future favours his learned in- 
genuity had already acquired; for in 1623 he received 
from James a valuable " finecure," which his prede- 
ceflbr had formerly bellowed on Sir Philip Sidney. 
But a brighter day was dawning. He fought and 
found a more enduring Sovereign. The date of his 
Ordination has not been difcovered ; but in the fummer 






X HERBERT S WORKS. 

of 1626 (July 15), the haughty, though generous 
Bifhop Williams gave to him the Prebend of Leighton 
Ecclefia, in the diocefe of Lincoln. Oley informs us 
that " becaufe he lived far from and fo could not per- 
form the duties of that place, he would fain have 
refigned it to Mafter Ferrar, but Matter F. wholly re- 
fufed, and diverted, or directed his charity to the re- 
edifying the ruined church of Leighton, where the 
corpfe of the Prebend lay." 

Leighton is a village in Huntingdonfhire, near Spald- 
wick, and the church ftands to the right of the road 
from Huntingdon to Thrapfton. A vifitor, in 185 1, 
has furnifhed fome interefting particulars.* The 
church is compofed of a weftern tower, with porches, 
tranfepts, and a chancel. Herbert, in his capacity or 
Prebendary, became a proprietor in the Parifh, and 
probably applied the income which he derived from it 
to the reftoration of the edifice ; but the alterations are 
faid to have been lefs extenfive than the narrative of 
Walton implies. The old walls remain. The chief 
outlay was upon a new roof, and in repairing the parts 
of the church then occupied by the congregation. 
The feats are of oak, open, in the ftyle of the 17th 
century. The tower, the font, and fome windows in 
the chancel were contributed by Herbert. A gallery, 
erected for an organ in 1840, has flightly difarranged 
the fymmetry, and high pews have replaced the old 
benches in the chancel. The pulpit and reading defk, 

* Notes and Qjueries, iii. 178. 



INTRODUCTION. XI 

{landing North and South, correfpond in every par- 
ticular. The font is extremely fhallow, no texts of 
fcripture adorn the walls ; but traces were found of the 
poor man's box having been formerly fixed " to the 
back of the bench neareft to the fouth door." The 
tower is battlemented, and commands a pleafing prof- 
peel: over fifteen or fixteen villages. By the aid of a 
glafs, the magnificent pile of Ely Cathedral, nearly 
thirty miles off*, may be difcerned. One ornamental 
fpout bears the date of 1632. Three crefts were 
noticed, but they could not be clearly deciphered. 
The family device of the Herberts did not appear; 
nor has the reftorer left behind him any record of his 
own munificence, or of the generous charity to which 
he ftirred up his relations and friends. In 1627, Her- 
bert loft his mother, after a long feafon of fuffering which 
his tendernefs did much to foften. " For myfelf, dear 
mother," he had written to her fome years earlier, 
" I always feared ficknefs more than death, becaufe 
ficknefs hath made me unable to perform thofe offices 
for which I came into the world, and muft yet be kept 
in it ; but you are freed from that fear, who have al- 
ready abundantly difcharged that part, having both 
ordered your family and fo brought up your children > 
that they have attained to the years of difcretion and 
competent maintenance ; fo that now, if they do not 
well, the fault cannot be charged on you, whofe exam- 
ple and care of them will juftify you both to the world, 
and your own confeience ; infomuch, that whether you 



XU HERBERT S WORKS. 

turn your thoughts on the life paft, or on the joys that 
are to come ; you have ftrong prefervations againft all 
difquiet." 

Soon after his mother's death his own weak health 
grew weaker, and a {harp ague drove him to feek eafe 
in the pleafant village of Woodford, in Effex, where 
his brother Henry lived. There he abode about a 
year, becoming his own Phyfician, and curing his dis- 
order by abftinence from c drink,' and all frefh meat. 
But, as in other cafes, the remedies were worfe than the 
difeafe ; figns of confumption beginning to mew them- 
felves, a different climate was recommended ; and 
he fought it at Dauntfey, in Wiltfhire, the houfe 
of Lord Danby, by whom he was affectionately 
welcomed and entertained. In this choice air, as 
Aubrey calls it, by avoiding fevere ftudy, and partak- 
ing of cheerful exercife and fociety, his health returned. 
A new fcene was now to open before him. There 
lived at Bainton, in the fame county, a kinfman of 
Lord Danby, — Mr. Charles Danvers. He had nine 
daughters, of whom Jane was his favourite. To her 
he had often fpoken of Herbert, and promifed a double 
blefling upon the union that he hoped to fee. It happened 
that Mr. Danvers died before Herbert's vifit to Daunt- 
fey ; but as we learn from Walton, Jane " became fo 
much a Platonick as to fall in love with Mr. Herbert 
unfeen." The fmalleft fpark would light fuch a train. 
The only obftacle was the want of acquaintance. This 
was eafily removed. Some mutual friends procured a 



INTRODUCTION. XUl 

meeting ; and within three days of the firft interview 
Jane Danvers changed her name into Herbert. 

If Herbert, whofe mem ry was ftored with proverbs, 
called to mind the wife faw about c marrying in hafle,' 
he never pointed the moral of it with his own experi- 
ence. He had more caufe for rejoicing, than repenting 
at leifure. Walton fweetly portrays the charm and 
bleflednefs of his wedded-life. " The Eternal Lover 
of mankind made them happy in each other's mutual 
and equal affections and compliance ; indeed, fo happy 
that there never was any oppofition betwixt them, 
unlefs it were a conteft which mould moft incline to a 
compliance with the other's defires." 

About three months after the marriage, Dr. Curie, 
being elevated to the See of Bath and Wells, refigned 
the re&ory of Bemerton, which acccordingly pafied 
from the Patron, Lord Pembroke, to the King ; but 
when the Earl afked it for Herbert, his requeft met 
with a kind anfwer. The good news reached him at 
Bainton, where he was flaying with his wife's relatives, 
and foon afterwards being joined by Mr. Arthur 
Woodnot, his old dear friend, he fet out for Wilton. 
The cure of fouls lay heavy upon his mind, and he 
was in doubt whether to accept, or decline it. Lord 
Pembroke, feeling unequal to combat his fcruples, 
adopted the wife refolution of laying them before Laud, 
then Bifhop of London. The refult mould be told in 
the words of Walton. "The Bifhop did the next 
day fo convince Mr. Herbert, That the refujal of it 



XIV HERBERT S WORKS. 

was a fin, that a tailor was fent for to come fpeedily 
from Salifbury to Wilton, to take meafure, and make 
him canonical clothes againft next day ; which the 
tailor did. And Mr. Herbert, being fo habited, went 
with his prefentation to the learned Dr. Davenant, 
who was then Bifhop of Salifbury, and he gave him 
inftitution immediately ; and he was alfo the fame day, 
(which was April 26th, 1630), inducted into the good 
and more pleafant than healthful Parfonage of Bemer- 
ton." An interefting ftory is related of the ceremony. 
Being left in the church to toll the bell, as the law 
required him to do, he wearied the patience of his. 
friends at the door, and one of them, looking in at the 
window, faw the new re£tor lying before the Altar. 
They afterwards knew the caufe of the delay, when 
they heard that he had been fetting rules for the 
government of his paftoral life, and making a vow to 
keep them. 

His parifh gave him ample occupation. The church 
needed repairs, and the parfonage had fallen into decay, 
his predeceffor having refided hi a diftant village. 
The larger portion of the houfe he rebuilt at his own 
expenfe, recommending his fucceflor to cultivate liberal 
and grateful feelings in an infcription fet over the 
chimney in the hall, where it is no longer to be found. 

The Re£tory is only feparated from the church by 
the width of the road, a diftance now of thirty-four, 
and in Herbert's time of forty feet. A grafs-plot 
flopes down to the river, commanding a fine view of 



INTRODUCTION. XV 

Salifbury Cathedral. A pleafing anecdote is told in 
connection with this garden. Norris became the 
reftor of Bemerton nearly fixty years after the death 
of Herbert. He was there upon one occafion vifited 
by Mr. Colborne, the early friend of the poet Young. 
The fpire rifing above the trees drew from him an 
exclamation of furprife :— " What a magnificent ftruc- 
ture ! You are happy, Sir, in this delightful profpecV' 
" Yes," anfwered Norris, with melancholy humour, 
" It is all the profpecT: I have with refpecT: to that 
Cathedral." A medlar, which tradition fays was 
planted by the poet, ftill flourifhes in the garden. 

If Herbert's life had been prolonged, we may con- 
clude that the church would have been reftored with 
fome regard to the beauty of holinefs. It was always 
a very humble building, and is only forty-five feet long 
by eighteen in width.* The fouth and weft windows, 
of the ftyle called Decorated, are afligned to the 
beginning of the fourteenth century. The eaft window 
is modern, and the old fittings have been removed. 
The decorated windows, font, and bell are probably 
the only remaining obje&s that met the eye of 
Herbert. 

His paftoral labours were crowded into the fpace of 
two years and a few months. Every reader remembers 
the defcription of his daily prayer, and how " fome of the 
meaner fort of his parifh did fo love and reverence Mr. 
Herbert, that they would let their plough reft when 

* Notes and Queries, ii. 460. 



XVI HERBERT S WORKS. 

his faint's bell rung to prayer, that they might alfo offer 
their devotion to God with him, and would then return 
back to their plough," thinking themfelves the happier 
for the bleffing <"hey carried away. Circumftances, 
altogether independent of his own character and piety, 
helped to quicken the devotional reverence of the 
people. The population of the Parifh, embracing the 
villages of Bemerton, Fugglefton, and Quidhampton, 
does not exceed fix hundred perfons. Bemerton 
contains about one hundred and fifty.* In Herbert's 
time the number was confiderably fmaller. Perhaps 
twenty cottages fheltered his flock, for a curate watched 
over the remoter diftricts. Paftoral fuperintendence 
would thus be eafy and effective. A mc~e important 
key to his influence is to be found in his rank. He was 
the kinfman of the Pembrokes, whofe fplendid manfion 
ftands within a walk of the Parfonage. In that day, a 
man of family was fuppofed to honour the Church by 
entering it. Barnabas Oley drew out a catalogue of 
dignified perfons who had received Orders, and he even 
remembered, with evident fatiffaction, to have read that 
Henry VIII. was defigned by his father for the Arch- 
bifhopric of Canterbury, if his brother Arthur had lived 
to fucceed to the Crown. If we read Jeremy Collier's 
EfTays on Pride and the Office of a Chaplain, we are 
ftruck by the phenomenon of a learned man fitting 
down to prove, with the help of logic, that " a Prielr, 

* As I am obligingly informed by the prefent re&or, the Rev. 
W. R. Pigott. 



INTRODUCTION. XV11 

or a Chaplain in a family, is not a fervant."* Oley 
had no hefitation in affirming that the fpiritual advan- 
tages of a nobleman, or a gentleman, over a Clerk of 
lower parentage, are very confiderable ; the truth 
taught being fooner believed, the reproof beftowed 
better received, and the example fhewn making a 
deeper impreffion. At a later period it was fuppofed 
that a Prieft and a gentleman were diftinct characters, 
and that courtefy had no relationfhip to learning. 
Thus we find Sir William Temple fpeaking of an 
Englifh and a French book, as " one writ by a divine^ 
the other by a gentleman ," and Lord Shaftefbury re- 
marking, that " a faint-author leaft values politenefs," 
and fcorns to reform his temper by the ftandard of good 
company, or the rule of manners. 

Herbert's acceptance of a Benefice was efteemed a 
condefcenfion by his contemporaries — "He was none 
of the nobles of Tekoa, who at the building of Jeru- 
falem put not their necks to the work of the Lord" was 
the commentary of Fuller. His perfonal gifts added a 
luftre to his inherited. He would gain a grace from 
every comparifon with his rural brethren, of whom we 
catch a glimpfe in the remark of Walton, that if Her- 
bert " were at any time too zealous in his fermons, it 
was either in reproving the ill behaviour of congrega- 
tions, or of thofe ministers that huddled up the church 
prayers without a vifible reverence and affe&ion — 
namely, fuch as feemed to fay the Lord's Prayer or colled 

* Effays, Third Edition- 1698. 
b 



xviii Herbert's works. 

in a breath ." How he laboured in this happy corner 
of the Lord's field, hoping all things, and blefling all 
people, afking his own way to Sion, and fhowing it to 
others, — we read in the artlefs page of Walton. But 
not long was he to fing his fong in a ftrange land. 
While any portion of ftrength remained, he continued 
to read prayers twice every day, as his cuftom had been, 
and when he felt himfelf no longer equal to that labour 
of love, he refigned it to his Curate. About a month 
before his death, Mr. Duncon, fubfequently Rector of 
Fryer Barnet, Middlefex, came to vifit him, and fpeak- 
ing to Walton of the interview, after an interval of 
nearly forty years, he declared that the pious difcourfe, 
and the meek demeanour of Herbert were ftill frefti in 
his memory. Mr. Duncon's place was fupplied by an 
older and dearer friend, Mr. Woodnot, who never left 
the fick man until He who gives His beloved fleep had 
taken him. 

The fetting of the fun was as calm as its mining 
had been, only of a richer hue. The wife of Herbert, 
his three nieces, and Mr. Woodnot flood befide him, 
while in his own words " He paffed a conflict with his 
laft enemy, and overcame him by the merits of his 
matter, Jefus." His laft words were, " Lord, forfake 
me not now my ftrength faileth me ; but grant me 
mercy for the merits of my Jefus. And now, Lord, 
Lord, now receive my foul." And fo his Father in 
heaven took His child to his own home. 

The following entry in the Regifter of Bemerton is 
the lateft record of one of God's moft devoted chil- 



INTRODUCTION. XIX 

dren : — " Mr. George Herbert, Esq., Parfon of 
Foughlefton and Bemerton, was buried 3 day of 
March, 1632." 

Few faces are better known than Herbert's, with 
its auftere fweetnefs, and the evident marks of inward 
decline. In perfon he is defcribed, by Walton, as tall, 
and unufually thin, but cheerful in look, and always 
attracting friends and ftrangers by the elegance and 
the benignity of his manner and addrefs. He ftands 
amid a group of Engliih worthies remarkable for their 
perfonal and hiftoric intereft. The eloquent Donne 
was one of his deareft friends ; he knew the accom- 
plifhments of Wotton, and the learned cafuiftry of 
Sanderfon ; the firft portion of Hooker's wonderful 
treatife appeared while he was in his cradle ; and his 
childifh fancy was enriched by the EfTays of Bacon. 
With Ben Jonfon, who furvived him about five years, 
he was likely to be acquainted. Shakfpere he had pro- 
bably ken in fome feftive interval of Cambridge life ; 
for that illuftrious poet did not retire from London be- 
fore 161 1, when Herbert was eighteen years old. In 
this fplendid company of theologians, philofophers, and 
poets, he wore an expreflion and a coftume of his own. 
I If his Court views had been realifed, we might have 
expected to have feen blended in him Sidney's chivalry, 
iand the picturefque foppery of Raleigh. He was only 
kven years younger than the hero of Zutphen, to 
whom in temperament he feems to have fhown a 
remarkable refemblance. 

b 2 



XX HERBERT S WORKS. 

We are to confider Herbert as a Poet, a Paftor, 
and a writer of Profe. His poetical reputation was 
wider and greater than Milton's. Within a few years 
twenty thoufand copies of the c Temple' were fold. 
Cowley alone outwent him in popularity ; one 
being the laureate of religious, as the other was of 
fafhionable life. The hiftory of his poems is moft 
touching and beautiful. In his laft ficknefs, he pre- 
fented them to a friend in thefe words : " Sir, I pray 
deliver this little Book to my dear brother Ferrar, and 
tell him, he mall find in it a picture of the many fpirit- 
ual conflicts that have parted betwixt God and my 
foul, before I could subject mine to the will of Jesus 
my master ; in whofe fervice I have now found per- 
fect freedom ; defire him to read it ; and then, if he 
can think it may turn to the advantage of any poor 
dejected foul, let it be made public ; if not, let him 
burn it, for I and it are lefs than the leaft of God's 
mercies." 

The publication of the Temple produced an imme- 
diate impreffion. Henry Vaughan, whofe rough lines 
abound in touches of a quaint and fuggeftive fancy, 
obferves, in reference to the impure verfes of the day : 
" The firft, that with any effectual fuccefs, attempted 
a diverfion of this foul and overflowing ftream, was 
the bleflfed man, Mr. George Herbert, whofe holy life 
and verfe gained many pious converts ; of whom I am 
the leaft 5 and gave the firft check to a moft flourifhing 
and admired Wit of his time."* 

* Preface to Silex Scintilians, p. 58. 



INTRODUCTION. XXI 

Herbert belongs to that third Italian fchool, which 
was to occupy a chapter in Gray's hiftory of poetry, 
as he communicated the plan to Warton. It was a 
school, in his opinion, full of conceit, beginning in the 
reign of Elizabeth ; continued under James and 
Charles the Firft, by Donne, Crafhaw, and Cleveland ; 
carried to its height by Cowley, and ending with 
Sprat. Herbert was certainly a difciple. Complicated 
metaphors abound. The poems of that age recall the 
mechanical contrivances of the eccentric Mr. Win- 
ftanley, the firft architect of the Eddyftone Light- 
houfe. In his ftrange abode nothing was what it 
feemed to be. An old flipper upon the floor ftarted 
into a fpecTral figure ; a vifitor refting in a chair, 
was fuddenly embraced by two mufcular arms ; or 
fauntering into a fummer-houfe, ftraightway found 
himfelf floating away into the middle of a Canal. The 
poetical furprifes of Herbert are fometimes equa'.y 
unexpected, and it muft be confeffed, not lefs inge- 
nious. The reader's eye is perpetually ftruck with a 
a tranfformation, or a grotefque invention. 

Even the friendly tafte of Mr. Keble* was offended 
by the conftant flutter of his fancy, for ever hovering 
round and round the theme. But this was a peculiarity 
which the molt gifted writers admired. Dryden openly 
avowed that nothing appeared more beautiful to him 
than the imagery in Cowley, which fome readers con- 
demned. It muft, at leaft, be faid in praife of this 

* Praele&iones Academicae, xx. 12. 



XXH HERBERTS WORKS. 

creative playfulnefs, that it is a quality of the intellect 
Angularly fprightly and buoyant ; it ranges over a 
boundlefs landfcape, pierces into every corner, and, by 
the light of its own fire — to adopt a phrafe of Temple 
— difcovers a thoufand little bodies, or images in the 
world, unfeen by common eyes, and only manifefted by 
the rays of that poetic fun. 

There is in Herbert another fort of quaintnefs, which 
is neither the fruit of his age, nor of his own under- 
ftanding, but of the authors whom he ftudied. " He 
that reads Mr. Herbert's poems attendingly, fhall find 
the excellence of Scripture Divinity, and choice paf- 
fages of the Fathers bound up in metre." If James 
Montgomery* had confidered this remark of Barnabas 
Oley, he would have hefitated to see " devotion itfelf 
turned into mafquerade " by the poet. Herbert did not 
forget to confult, for his outpourings of heart-praife and 
love, that commonplace book of Greek and Latin 
theology which the Country Parfon is recommended 
to collect and ponder. Many of his curiofities of 
fancy have a Patriftic, rather than a poetic anceftry, 
and are to be fought in Chryfoftom or Cyprian, inftead 
of in Donne, or Marini. 

Every true work of art, whether it be of the pencil, 
the chifel, or the pen, addrefTes itfelf to particular 
fympathies. Of courfe, there will be a certain out- 
ward excellence which the univerfal tafte cannot fail to 
understand and admire. I fpeak of the inner and 

* Chriftian Poet, p. 258. 



INTRODUCTION. XXJli 

the hidden charm. The beauty of Raffaelle's Madonna 
reveals itfelf very differently to the critic and the wor- 
fhipper. Milton may be admired by the common 
reader, for his grandeur of fentiment \ but it is only 
through the fpedtacles of books that the fplendour and 
the lovelinefs of his vifions are clearly difcerned. Now, 
Herbert has, according to his degree, the diftin&ive 
peculiarities of Raffaelle and Milton. His fweetnefs 
of fancy, his vigorous fenfe, and his happinefs of idiom 
may be appreciated by all people ; juft as the grace and 
the dignity of the picture and the epic come home to 
theleaft refined obferver. But there is a remoter and 
a delightfuller quality, that requires a kindred heart to 
comprehend it. Herbert is pre-eminently a poet of the 
Chirch ; his fimiles are drawn from her ceremonial ; 
his moft folemn thoughts are born of her myfteries ; 
hi; tenderer!: leffons are taught by her prayers. To a 
reader without a deep Catholic devotion, he is only the 
ingenious or the fantaftic rhymer \ to one who has that 
reeling, his verfes are the firings of a mufical inftru- 
ment, making melody in themfelves, and awaking fweet 
founds in the hearts of thofe who hear it. 

There is a paflage in one of Southey's letters that 
feems very forcibly to illuftrate this view.* Speaking 
of Wordfworth, he afks, " Does he not affociate more 
feeling with particular phrafes, and you alfo with him, 
than thofe phrafes convey to any one elfe ? This I 

* Life by his Son, ii. 191. 



XXIV HERBERT S WORKS. 

fufpect. Who would part with a ring of a dead 
friend's hair ? And yet a jeweller will give for it only 
the value of the gold." This is juft the cafe with 
Herbert. His verfes are not to be tolTed into the fcale, 
and weighed. There is the hair of the dead Friend in 
the gold. The Gofpel confecrates every rhyme. The 
Liturgy is reflected in nearly every devout fentiment. 
The poem on " Sin " is almoft a Collect in its majeftic 
harmony, and fimplenefs of language. The " Sacri- 
fice" has quite a Scriptural folemnity of grouping and 
reprefentation. 

A remarkable charm of Herbert's poetry is feer in 
what may be named — the proverbial philofophy of 
common fenfe. All the famous writers of that, and 
the former century, abounded in it; whether we take 
up the Apologies and Defences of Jewell; the Efiays 
of Bacon; or the exhortations of Taylor. The quan- 
tity of plain, practical wifdom for every-day life, 
treasured up in the verfes of Herbert, has fcarcely been 
confidered. The Church Porch is a little hand-book of 
rules for the management of temper, and converfation, 
and bufinefs. Every child ought to get it by heart. It 
recalls the comparifon by which Plato characterifed 
Socrates. The outfide of the vafe is fcrawled over 
with odd fhapes and waiting, but within are precious 
liquors, and healing medicines, and rare mixtures of far- 
gathered herbs and flowers. In connection with 
this moralifing difpofition may be mentioned a certain 
familiar humour, fuddenly mooting gleams acrofs a 



INTRODUCTION. XXV 

ferious pafTage, and very ftrongly reminding us of the 
pleafantry of Cowper. In the following pages the 
reader will be ftruck by a playfulnefs, that looks like a 
thoughtful fmile from Wefton. 

The mafculine fenfe of Herbert has drawn eyes that 
were fkilful enough to avoid his faults. " From the 
dregs of Crafhaw, of Carew, of Herbert, and others 
(for it is well known he was a great reader of all thofe 
poets), Pope has judicioufly collected gold." So writes 
DnWartom* From Crafhaw Pope might gather fo me 
fuel to feed that devotional flame which burns fo vehe- 
mently in his Eloifa ; but in Herbert he obtained, what 
he knew better than any of his contemporaries how to 
ufe, an ample ftore of practical wifdom terfely uttered. 
His difcoveries were not confined to loofe gold in the 
rubbifh \ he found pieces of it worked up into an 
elegance of form, which he himfelf could not improve. 
Many lines in the Temple have the polifli and the 
glitter of the Moral Effays ; and not feldom the ftruc- 
ture of his own couplet, and the identical paufe of the 
caefura are anticipated. 

The characteriftic of Herbert's fancy is fruitfulnefs. 
The poetry, like the theology of that age, put all learn- 
ing into an abridgment. A courfe of lectures flowed 
into the rich eflence of a fingle fermon. A month's 
feed bloomed in an ode. The 17th was the contra- 
diction of the 19th century, the object being then to 

* Eflay on Pope, i. 85. 



XXVI HERBERT S WORKS. 

give the moft thought in the fmalleft fpace, as now to 
fow the wideft field with the frugalleft corn. Herbert's 
cc Pilgrimage " is an example. Written, probably, 
before Bunyan was born, — certainly while he was an 
infant, — it contains all the Progrefs of the Pilgrim in 
outline. We are fhewn the gloomy Cave of Defpera- 
tion, the Rock of Pride, the Mead of Fancy, the Copfe 
of Care, the Wild Heath where the Traveller is robbed 
of his gold, and the gladfome Hill that promifes a fair 
profpecl:, but only yields a lake of brackifh water on 
the top. Such a compofition would fcarcely efcape 
the notice of that Spenfer of the people, who afterwards 
gave breadth and animation, and figures to the fcene. 

The language of Herbert cannot be too highly 
praifed — however diftant the thought may be, the ex- 
preffion of it is, with very few exceptions, pure, racy, 
and idiomatic, He had evidently been a loving and a 
conftant hearer, or reader of Shakefpere, whofe Plays 
appeared in his childhood, and were, doubtlefs, the 
delight of his eyes during the fhort fummer-day of his 
courtly hopes, and the frequent fubjecT: of talk at Wil- 
ton. Many paffages might be quoted ; but the Shakef- 
perian tone will be recognized in the following : — 

How neatly do we give one only name 
To parent's iiTue, and the Sun's bright ftar ! 
A Ion is light and fruit ; a fruitful flame 
Chafing the father's dimnefs. 

And ftill more diftinctly in the next, — 



INTRODUCTION. XXV11 

My comforts drop and melt away like fnow j 
I make my head, and all the thoughts and ends 
Which my fierce youth did bandy, fall and flow 
Like leaves about me, or like fummer friends, 
Flies of eftate and mnfhine. 

The beautiful phrafe — " Summer Friends" — was in- 
troduced by Gray into his Hymn on Adverflty. Once 
more : — 

Art thou a magiftrate ? then be fevere : 
If ftudious, copy fair what time hath blurred. 
Redeem Truth from his jaws j if foldier, 
Chafe brave employments with a naked fword 
Throughout the world. 

Pages might eafily be filled with inftances of feli- 
citous words and phrafes. In the Poem on Providence 
we have the " leaning " elephant, afterwards exhibited 
by Thomfon in his magnificent landfcape : — 

Peaceful, beneath primeval trees that call 
Their ample made o'er Niger's yellow ftream, 
And where the Ganges rolls his facred wave, 
High-railed in folemn theatre around, 
Leans the huge elephant. 

Summer, 721. 

Herbert's verfifi cation is frequently affe£ted by his 
manner of thinking. The compreflion of thought 
caufes harfhnefs. Sometimes the rhythm drags with a 



XXV111 HERBERT S WORKS. 

flow, jolting, uneven ftep, making the reader to re- 
member Walpole's criticifm of an Ode, amended by 
Mafon, which, he told him, had a fudden fink, like a 
man with one leg fhorter than the other. But not 
feldom the harmony is foft and flowing, and lovely 
fancies are chanted to their own mufic. The " Flower," 
" Virtue," and " Gratefulnefs," are exquifite fpecimens 
of this clafs. 

The poetry and the profe of Herbert differ as much 
as Cowley's. He has not, indeed, left any compofition 
to be compared with the delightful Eflays ; but he pof- 
fefTed a large fhare of the fame frefhnefs, gaiety, and 
eafe. If we had the manufcripts that perifhed in the 
flames of Highnam Houfe, we might propofe a nearer 
parallel. But Fuller juftly pronounced even his re- 
mains to be fhavings of gold. The Country Parfon 
is deftined to live. Among the few Englifh writings 
of a practical clafs, between 1600 and 1650, and yet 
retaining a reputation, Mr. Hallam* places this treatife 
of Herbert ; which he judges to be " on the whole, a 
pleafing little book," but, " with the precepts fome- 
times fo overftrained, as to give an air of affectation." 
This is faint praife ; and the cenfure is refuted by the 
Work itfelf. The author informs us, that he wrote 
it with a view to his own fpiritual improvement, draw- 
ing the form and character of a true Paftor, that he 
might have a mark to aim at ; and fetting it as high a> 

* Literature of Europe, iii. 129. 



INTRODUCTION. XXIX 

he could, fince " he fhoots higher that threatens the 
moon, than he that aims at a tree." 

Herbert muft be confidered to have fulfilled his 
defign. The epidemics of one age require a different 
treatment from thofe of another. The cure of the 
paft fails in the prefent. The popular difeafe, in the 
former half of the 17th century, was the degraded con- 
dition of the country Clergy. It had almoft become 
chronic. There could be no inftrucTiion where there 
was no refpe£t. Such fhepherds neither guided nor 
fed their flocks. Herbert's object was two-fold ; to 
raife the teacher and to win the people ; the former 
leflbn he mewed by precept, the fecond by example. 
He painted the portrait of the Good Parfon, and was 
himfelf the original. His views of the pafroral office, 
even in the rudeft country hamlet, were lofty and 
glowing ; and he recommended the ftudy of Plato 
for the fake of acquiring the dexterity of Socrates, and 
applying it to the common intercourfe and teaching of 
a Parifh. He was a burning and a mining light in his 
own time, and he ftill flieds a foftened luftre over 
ours. Such men ennoble their brethren, by the 
beautiful union of all that is practical, with whatever 
is graceful in life. In them nothing is harm or repul- 
five. The auftere raiment is bound with a fair girdle. 
Sanderfon fings pfalms to his own mufic -, Ken warbles 
hymns before he lleeps ; Herbert delights to fet an- 
thems to his lute 5 and Wotton bequeaths his viol to a 
friend. 



xxx Herbert's works. 

O could we copy their mild virtues, then 
What joy to live, what bleffednefs to die ! 
Methinks their very names mine Hill and bright j 
Apart — like glow-worms on a fummer night : 
Or lonely tapers, when from far they fling 
A guiding-ray 5 or feem, like ftars on high, 
Satellites burning in a lucid ring.* 

* Wordsworth, iv. 102. 





CONTENTS. 






Page 




Page 


Dedication 


. iii. 


The Holy Communion 45 


Preface. 


v. 


Antiphon 


• 47 


Life of Herbert 


. vii. 


Love (1) 


47 


The Church — 




Love (2) 


. 48 


The Dedication 


1 


The Temper 


49 


The Church Porch (Per- 


The Temper 


50 


rihanterrum) 


1 


Jordan 


5* 


The Church (Superlimi- 


Employment 


5i 


nare) 


. 17 


The Holy Sepulchre (1) 52 


The Altar 


. 18 


The Holy Sepulchre (2) 53 


The Sacrifice 


. 18 


Whit Sunday 


54 


The Thankfgiving . 28 


Grace 


55 


The Reprifall 


• 2 9 


Praife 


56 


The Agonie 


. 30 


Affli&ion 


57 


The Sinner 


. 31 


Mattens 


57 


Good Friday 


• 3i 


Sinne 


58 


Redemption 


. 32 


Even Song 


59 


Sepulchre 


• 33 


Church Monuments 


60 


Eafter 


• 34 


Church Mufick 


61 


Eafter Wings 


. 36 


Church-lock and Key 


61 


Holy Baptiime 


• 36 


The Church Floore 


62 


Holy Baptifme 


. 37 


The Windows 


63 


Nature 


. 38 


Trinity Sunday 


63 


Sinne 


. 38 


Content 


64 


Afni&ion . 


. 39 


The Quidditie 


65 


Repentance 


. 42 


Humilitie 


66 


Faith 


• 43 


Frailtie 


6 7 


Prayer. 


• 45 


Conftancie 


68 



XXX11 



CONTENTS. 



Ami&ion 
The Starre 
Sunday- 



Page 
• 7° 
. 7i 
. 72 



Avarice . . • 74 
Anagram . -75 

To all Angels and Saints 75 
Employment . . 76 
Deniall . . .78 
Chriftmas . -79 

Ungrate fulneiTe . 80 

Sighs and Grones . 81 

The World . . 82 

ColofT.iii. 3. (Our life is hid 

with Chrift in God) 83 
Vanitie 



Lent 

Vertue 

The Pearl (Matt, xiii.) 

Affliaion 

Man 

Antiphon 

UnkindneiTe 

Life 

SubmiiTion 

Juftice 

Charms and Knots 

Affliction . 

Mortification 

Decay 

Milerie 

Jordan 

Prayer 

Obedience . 

Confcience . 



83 
84 
86 

87 
89 
90 
92 
93 
94 
94 
95 
96 

97 
98 

99 
100 
103 
104 
105 
106 



Page 
Sion .... 107 
Home . . . 108 

The Britifh Church .111 
The Q^uip . . .112 
Vanitie . . .113 
The Dawning . .114 
Jeiii . . . .114 
BufinelTe . . .115 
Dialogue . . .116 
Dulneffe . . .118 
Love-joy . . * 119 
Providence . . .119 
Hope . . . 125 

Sinnes Round . .125 
Time .... 126 
GratefulnelTe . .127 
Peace . . 128 

ConfelTion . . .130 
GiddinelTe . . . 13 1 
The Bunch of Grapes 132 
Love-unknown . .133 
ManVMedley . .136 
The Storm . . .137 
Paradiie . . .138 
The Method . .138 
Divinitie . . .139 
Ephef. iv. 30 (" Grieve 

not the Holy Spirit") 141 
The Familie . . 142 
The Size . ■ . 143 
Artillerie . . .145 
Church-rents & Schifmes 146 
Juftice . . .147 

The Pilgrimage . .148 





CONTENTS. 


XXX1U 




Page 


Page 


The Holdfaft 


. 150 


The Odour (2 Cor. ii.) 185 


Complaining 


. 150 


The Foil . . .186 


The Difcharge . 


151 


The Forerunners . 187 


Praife 


• 153 


The Rofe . . .188 


An OfFering 


154 


Difcipline . 


. 189 


Longing 


. 156 


The Invitation 


. 191 


The Bag . 


• 157 


The Banquet 


. 192 


The Jews . 


160 


The Pofie . 


■ i94 


The Collar . 


161 


A Parodie . 


195 


The Glimpfe 


162 


The Elixer 


. 196 


Aflurance . 


163 


A Wreath 


. 197 


The Call . 


164 


Death 


• i97 


Clafping of Hands 


165 


Doomfday 


. 198 


Praife . 


166 


Judgment 


. 199 


Jofeprfs Coat 


167 


Heaven 


. 200 


The Pulley 


168 


Love 


. 201 


The Priefthood . 


168 


The Church Militant 202 


The Search 


170 


L'Envoy . . .210 


Grief 


172 


MlCELLANEOUS POEMS — 


The Croffe . 


173 


A Sonnet (New Year's 


The Flower 


*74 


Gift to his Mother) .212 


Dotage 


176 


Infcription (to his Suc- 


The Sonne . 


177 


cefTor at Bermerton) 213 


A True Hymne . 


177 


On Lord Danvers .213 


The Anfwer 


178 


A Priest to the 


A Dialogue- Anthem — 




TEiMPLE . - 215 


Chriftian, Death 


179 


The Author to the 


The Water-Courfe 


179 


Reader . . .216 


Self Condemnation 


180 


Of aPaflor . . 217 


Bitter Sweet 


181 


Their Diverfities .218 


The Glance 


181 


The Parfon's Life . 220 


The 23 rd Pfalm . 


182 


The Parfon's Knowledge 222 


Marie Magdalene 


183 


The Parfon's AccefTory 


Aaron 


184 


Knowledges 


. 224. 



XXXIV 



CONTENTS. 



Page 
The Parfon's Praying . 226 
The Parfon's Preaching 228 
The Parfon on Sundays 231 
The Parfon's ftate of 

Life . . .233 

The Parfon in his Houfe 236 
The Parfon's Courtefy . 24I 
The Parfon's Charity . 243 
The Parfon's Church . 245 
The Parfon in Circuit 246 
The Parfon Comforting 749 
The Parfon A Father . 250 
The Parfon In Journey 251 
The Parfon In Sentinel 252 
The Parfon In Reference 254 
The Parfon In God's 

Stead . . .255 
The Parfon Catechifmg 256 
The Parfon In Sacra- 
ments . . . 260 
The Parfon's Complete- 

nefs . . . 262 

The Parfon's Arguing 266 
The Parfon Punifhing . 267 
The Parfon's Eye .268 

The Parfon In Mirth . 272 
The Parfon In Contempt 273 
The Parfon with his 

Church Wardens . 275 
The Parfon's Confidera- 

ration of Providence 276 
The Parfon In Liberty 278 
The Parfon's Surveys . 280 
The Parfon's Library . 286 



Page 
The Parfon's Dexterity 
in Applying Reme- 
dies . . . .288 
The Parfon's Conde- 

fcending . .292 

The Parfon's BlerTTng . 293 
Concerning Detraction 295 
The Author's Prayer 

before Sermon . , 297 

Prayer after Sermon . 299 

Jacula Prudentum . 301 



English Letters — 
To Henry Herbert 
Sir Hemy Herbert 
To the fame 
To the fame 
To his Sifter (from 

Cambridge) 
To Sir J. D. (Sir John 

Danvers) 
To the fame 
To the fame 
To the fame 
To the fame 
To the truly noble 

Sir J. D. " . 
To the Right Hon. the 

Lady Anne Countefs 

of Pembroke and 

Montgomery . 

Latin Letters — 

Ad R. Naunton, Secret. 
Gl atia? de Fluvio . 353 



34 1 
342 
343 
343 

345 

346 

347 
348 

349 
350 

35i 



35 2 



CONTENTS. 



XXX V 



Pag 
Ad Ful.Grevil — Gratiae 

de Fluvio . -354 
Ad R. Naunton — Gratiae 

de Fluvio et de tegen- 

dis Te&is Stramineis 354 
Gratulatio de Marchio- 

natu ad Bucking, C. 355 
Ad F. Bacon, Cancell— 

Gratiae de Inftaura- 

tionis Libro Acade- 

miae donato . .356 
Ad F. Coventry, Attorn. 358 
Ad R. Naunton .358 

Gratulatio ad Mountag. 

Thefaurar. . -3 59 

Gratulatio ad Heath, 

Sollicitor, Procurator. 360 
Jacobo Regi — 1. Gratiae 

de Scriptis Suis Aca- 

demiae donatis . .360 
Jacobo Regi — 2. Gratiae 

de Fluvio contra Re- 

demptores . .363 

Ad F. Bacon, Cancell— 

Gratiae de Fluvio . 363 
Ad Archiep. Cantaur — 

De Bibliopolis Lond. 365 
Ad Fr. Bacon, Cancell 

— De Bibliop. Lond. 365 
Gratulatio ad F. Leigh 

— Capitalem Juftitia- 

rium Angl. . .366 
Gratulatio ad Cranfield, 

Thefaurar . .367 



Page 
Ad Lane Andrewes. 

Epifc. . . .36? 
O ratio qua Aufpicatif- 
ilmum - Sereniflimi 
Principis Caroli Re- 
ditum ex Hifpania 
celebravit . .371 

Oratio, habita coram 
Dominis Legatis cum 
Magift.ro in Artibus 
Titulis Inilgnirentur 384. 
Oration when the Am- 
bafTadors were made 
Matters of Arts .386 

Preface to the Divine 
Confiderations of John 
ValdeiTo . . .388 
Notes to the fame . 389 

A Treatife of Temper- 
ance and Sobriety -399 
Latin and Greek Poems. 
Parentalia — 
Memoriae Matris Sacrum 415 
Epitaphium . .423 

Mufae Refponforiae. — 
Ad Andreae Melvini 
Scoti. Anti - Tami- 
Cami-Categoriam . 427 
Epigrammata Apologe- 
tica. — Pro Difciplina 
Ecclefiae Nostras . 435 
Walliae Principi . .436 

Reverendis Epifc. Vin- 
tonienil . . . 436 



XXXVI 



CONTENTS. 



Page 
Ad Regem . .436 

Ad Melvinum . .437 
Anti - Tami - Cami-Cate- 

goria . . .437 
Partitio Anti - Tami- 

Cami-Categorias 
In Metri Genus . 
De Larvatl, Gorgone 
De Praemlum Faftu 
De Gemina Academia 
De S. Baptifmi ritu 
De Signaculo Crucis 
De Juramento Ecclefias 441 
De Purificatione . 441 

De Antichrifti decore 



437 
438 
438 
439 
439 
440 
441 



Pontificali 


441 


De Superpelliceo . 


44.2 


De Pileo quadrato 


442 


In Catharum 


443 


De Epifcopis 


443 


De Iifdem ad Melvinum 


444 


De Textore Catharo 


444 


De Magicis Rotatibvs . 


444 


Ad Fratres . 


445 


De labe maculifque 


445 


De Mufica Sacra 


445 


De Eadem . 


447 


De rituum um 


447 


De Annulo Conjugali . 


448 


De Mundis et Mundanis 


448 


De Oratione Dominica 


448 


In Catharum quendam. 


446 


De lupa luftri Vaticani 


449 


Roma dabit . 


450 



Page 
De Impofitione . .450 
Supplicum Miniftrorum 

Raptus . . .450 
De Auclorum Enume- 

ratione . . . 451 
De Auri Sacra Fame . 452 
Ad Scotiam Protrepticon 

ad Pacem . . 452 

Ad Seduclos Innocentes 452 
Ad Melvinum . .453 
Ad Eundem . . 454 
Ad Seren. Regem . 454 
Ad Deum . . -456 
Inventa Bellica . .456 
Alia Poemata Latina . 457 
Ad Auctorem Inftaura- 

tionis magnae . .458 
Ad Francifcum Bacon . 456 
In honorem Fr. Bacon 460 
In obitum Fr. Bacon * 46 1 
Comparatio inter munus 

iiimmi — Cancellaria- 

tus et Liber . . 46 1 
JEthiopifla ambit Cef- 

tum diverfi colons 

virum . . .461 
In Natales et Pafcha 

Concurrentes . .462 
Ad Johannem Donne, 

D.D. . . .462 
In obitum ferenis Re- 

ginae Annae . .463 
In Obitum Henrici 

Principis Walliae . 463 



THE TEMPLE. 



The Dedication. 

Lord, my firft fruits prefent themfelves to thee ; 
Yet not mine neither : for from thee they came, 
And muft return. Accept of them and me, 
And make us ftrive, who mall fing beft thy Name. 
Turn their eyes hither, who (hall make a gain : 
Theirs, who fhall hurt themfelves or me, refrain. 



The Church Porch. 

Perirrhanterium. 

ff $ff& $HOU, whofe fweet youth and early hopes 

*' r I ^* inhance 

$t JL *$ Thy rate and price, and mark thee for a 

$&&&& treafure, 

Hearken unto a Verfer, who may chance 

Ryme thee to good, and make a bait of pleafure : 

A verfe may finde him, who a fermon flies, 

And turn delight into a facrifice. 

Beware of luft ; it doth pollute and foul 

Whom God in Baptifme waiht with his own blood : 

It blots thy leflbn written in thy foul ; 

The holy lines cannot be underftood. 
How dare thofe eyes upon a Bible look, 
Much lefle towards God, whofe luft is all their book ! 



*} 



2 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Abftain wholly, or wed. Thy bounteous Lord 

Allows thee choife of paths : take no by-wayes ; 

But gladly welcome what he doth afford ; 

Not grudging, that thy luft hath bounds and ftaies. 
Continence hath his joy : weigh both ; and fo 
If rottenneffe have more, let Heaven go. 

If God had laid all common, certainly 

Man would have been th' inclofer : but fince now 

God hath impal'd us, on the contrarie 

Man breaks the fence, and every ground will plough. 

O what were man, might he himfelf mifplace ! 

Sure to be croffe he would fhift feet and face. 

Drink not the third glaffe, which thou canft not tame, 
When once it is within thee ; but before 
Mayft rule it, as thou lift, and poure the fhame, 
Which it would poure on thee, upon the floore. 
It is moft juft to throw that on the ground, 
Which would throw me there if I keep the round. 

He that is drunken, may his mother kill 

Bigge with his filler : he hath loft the reins, 

Is outlawd by himfelfe : all kinde of ill 

Did with his liquor Aide into his veins. 

The drunkard forfets Man, and doth deveft 
All worldly right, fave what he hath by beaft. 

Shall I, to pleafe anothers wine-fprung minde, 
Lofe all mine own ? God hath giv'n me a meafure 
Short of his canne, and bodie ; muft I finde 
A pain in that, wherein he findes a pleafure ? 
Stay at the third glaffe : if thou lofe thy hold, 
Then thou art modeft, and the wine grows bold. 

If reafon move not Gallants, quit the room ; 
(All in a mipwrack fhift their feverall way) 



THE CHURCH PORCH. \ 

Let not a common mine thee intombe : 
Be not a beaft in courtefie, but flay, 

Stay at the third cup, or forego the place. 

Wine above all things doth Gods ftamp deface. 

Yet, if thou finne in wine or wantonneffe, 

Boaft not thereof; nor make thy fhame thy glorie. 

Frailtie gets pardon by fubmiili v en e fie ; 

But he that boafts, fhuts that out of his ftorie : 
He makes flat warre with God, and doth defie 
With his poore clod of earth the fpacious fky. 

Take not his name, who made thy mouth, in vain : 

It gets thee nothing, and hath no excufe. 

Luft and wine plead a pleafure, avarice gain : 

But the cheap fwearer through his open fluce 
Lets his foul runne for nought, as little fearing : 
Were I an Epicure^ I could bate fwearing. 

When thou doft tell anothers jeft, therein 

Omit the oathes, which true wit cannot need : 

Pick out of tales the mirth, but not the finne. 

He pares his apple, that will cleanly feed. 

Play not away the Vertue of that Name,* 

Which is the beft (take, when griefs make thee tame. 

The cheapeft finnes moft dearly punifht are ; 

Becaufe to fhun them alfo is fo cheap : 

For we have wit to mark them, and to fpare. 

O crumble not away thy fouls fair heap. 

If thou wilt die, the gates of hell are broad : 
Pride and full finnes have made the way a road. 

Lie not ; but let thy heart be true to God, 
Thy mouth to it, thy actions to them both : 

*That of Chriftian. 
B 2 



4 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Cowards tells lies, and thofe that fear the rod ; 

The ftormie working foul fpits lies and froth. 
Dare to be true. Nothing can need a ly: 
A fault, which needs it moft, grows two thereby. 

Flie idleneffe, which yet thou canft not flie 
By dreffing, miftrefling, and complement. 
If thofe take up thy day, the funne will crie 
Againft thee ; for his light was onely lent. 

God gave thy foul brave wings ; put not thofe feathers 
Into a bed, to fleep out all ill weathers. 

Art thou a Magiftrate ? then be fevere : 
If ftudious 3 copie fair what time hath blurr'd ; 
Redeem truth from his jawes : if fouldier, 
Chafe brave employments with a naked fword 

Throughout the world. Fool not ; for all may have, 
If they dare try, a glorious life, or grave. 

O England ! full of finne, but moft of floth ; 
Spit out thy flegme, and fill thy breaft with glorie : 
Thy Gentrie bleats, as if thy native cloth 
TranffuPd a lheepifhneffe into thy ftorie : 
Not that they all are fo ; but that the moft 
Are gone to graffe, and in the pafture loft. 

This loffe fprings chiefly from our education. 
Some till their ground, but let weeds choke their fonne : 
Some mark a partridge, never their childes fafhion : 
Some fhip them over, and the thing is done. 

Studie this art, make it thy great defigne ; 

And if Gods image move thee not, let thine. 

Some great eftates provide, but do not breed 
A malVring minde ; fo both are loft thereby: 
Or els they breed them tender, make them need 
All that they leave : this is flat povertie. 

rffrb 



THE CHURCH PORCH. 5 

For he, that needs five thoufand pound to live, 
Is full as poore as he, that needs but five. 

The way to make thy fonne rich, is to fill 
His minde with reft, before his trunk with riches : 
For wealth without contentment, climbes a hill, 
To feel thofe tempefts, which fly over ditches. 
But if thy fonne can make ten pound his meafure, 
Then all thou addeft may be call'd his treafure. 

When thou doft purpofe ought, (within thy power) 
Be fure to doe it, though it be but fmall : 
Conftancie knits the bones, and makes us ftowre, 
When wanton pleafures beckon us to thrall. 
Who breaks his own bond, forfeiteth himfelf : 
What nature made a fhip, he makes a fhelf. 

Doe all things like a man, not fneakingly : 

Think the king fees thee ftill; for his King does. 

Simpring is but a lay-hypocrifie : 

Give it a corner, and the clue* undoes. 
Who fears to do ill, fets himfelf to tafk : 
Who fears to do well, fure mould wear a mafk. 

Look to thy mouth : difeafes enter there. 
Thou haft two fconfes, f if thy ftomach call; 
Carve, or difcourfe ; do not a famine fear. 
Who carves, is kind to two ; who talks, to all. 

Look on meat, think it dirt, then eat a bit ; 

And fay withall, Earth to earth I commit. 

Slight thofe who fay amidft their fickly healths, 
Thou hVft by rule. What doth not fo, but man ? 

* Ball of thread. 

f Sconce generally fignifies a fkull ; but fometimes alio a bul- 
wark : it feems to bear the latter meaning in this line. If hunger 
tempts a man to over indulgence, he has two fafe-guards, he can 
either carve for others, or talk to them. 



6 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Houfes are built by rule, and common-wealths. 
Entice the trufty funne, if that you can, 

From his Ecliptick line ; becken the fkie. 

Who lives by rule then, keeps good companie. 

Who keeps no guard upon himfelf, is flack, 
And rots to nothing at the next great thaw. 
Man is a fhop of rules, a well-truiFd pack, 
Whofe every parcell under-writes a law. 

Lofe not thyfelf, nor give thy humours way : 
God gave them to thee under lock and key. 

By all means ufe fometimes to be alone. 

Salute thyfelf: fee what thy foul doth wear. 

Dare to look in thy cheft ; for 'tis thine own : 

And tumble up and down what thou find'ft there. 
Who cannot reft till he good fellows finde, 
He breaks'up houfe, turns out of doores his minde. 

Be thriftie, but not covetous : therefore give 

Thy need, thine honour, and thy friend his due. 

Never was fcraper brave man. Get to live; 

Then live, and ufe it : elfe, it is not true 
That thou haft gotten. Surely ufe alone 
Makes money not a contemptible ftone. 

Never exceed thy income. Youth mav make 
Ev'n with the yeare : but age, if it will hit, 
Shoots a bow fhort, and leflens ftill his ftake, 
As the day lefTens, and his life with it. 

Thy children, kindred, friends upon thee call ; 

Before thy journey fairly part with all. 

Yet in thy thriving ftill mifdoubt fome evil; 
Left gaining gain on thee, and make thee dimme 
To all things els. Wealth is the conjurers devil; 
Whom when he thinks he hath, the devil hath him. 



THE CHURCH PORCH. 7 

Gold thou mayft fafely touch; but if it flick 
Unto thy hands, it woundeth to the quick. 

What (kills it, if a bag of ftones or gold 
About thy neck do drown thee ? raife thy head ; 
Take ftarres for money; ftarres not to be told 
By any art, yet to be purchafed. 
'None is fo waftefull as the fcraping dame : 
She lofeth three for one; her foul, reft, fame. 

By no means runne in debt : take thine own meafure. 
Who cannot live on twentie pound a yeare, 
Cannot on fourtie : he's a man of pleafure, 
A kinde of thing that's for itfelf too deere. 

The curious unthrift makes his cloth too wide, 
And fpares himfelf, but would his taylor chide. 

Spend not on hopes. They that by pleading clothes 
Do fortunes feek, when worth and fervice fail, 
Would have their tale beleeved for their oathes, 
And are like empty veffels under fail. 

Old courtiers know this; therefore fet out fo, 
As all the day thou mayft hold out to go. 

In clothes, cheap handfomeneffe doth bear the bell, 

Wifdome's a trimmer thing, than fhop e'er gave. 

Say not then, This with that lace will do well; 

But, This with my difcretion will be brave. 
Much curioufneffe is a perpetual wooing, 
Nothing with labour, folly long a doing. 

Play not for gain, but fport. Who playes for more, 
Than he can lofe with pleafure, flakes his heart : 
Perhaps his wifes too, and whom me hath bore : 
Servants and churches alfo play their part. 

Onely a herauld, who that way doth paiie, [glaiie. 

Findes his crakt name at length in the church- 



8 Herbert's poems. 

If yet thou love game at fo deere a rate, 
Learn this, that hath old gamefters deerely coft : 
Doft lofe ? rile up : doft winne ? rife in that ftate. 
Who ftrive to fit out lofing hands, are loft. 
Game is a civil gunpowder, in peace 
Blowing up houfes with their whole increafe. 

In converfation boldnefle now bears fway. 
But know, that nothing can fo foolifh be, 
As empty boldnefle : therefore firft allay 
To ftuffe thy minde with folid braverie; 

Then march on gallant : get fubftantiall worth : 
Boldnefle guilds finely, and will fet it forth. 

Be fweet to all. Is thy complexion fowre ? 

Then keep fuch companies make them thy allay: 

Get a fharp wife, a fervant that will lowre. 

A ftumbler ftumbles leaft in rugged way. 

Command thyfelf in chief. He lifes warre knows, 
Whom all his paflions follow, as he goes. 

Catch not at quarrels. He that dares not fpeak 
Plainly and home, is coward of the two. 
Think not thy fame at ev'ry twitch will break : 
By great deeds fhew, that thou canft little do ; 

And do them not : that mall thy wifdome be ; 

And change thy temperance into braverie. 

If that thy fame with ev'ry toy be pof 'd,* 
'Tis a thinne web, which poyfonous fancies make ; 
But the great fouldiers honour was compoPd 
Of thicker ftuffe, which would endure a {hake. 

Wifdome picks friends \ civilitie playes the reft. 

A toy fhunn'd cleanly pafleth with the beft. 



Be interrupted or flopped. 



THE CHURCH PORCH. 9 

Laugh not too much : the wittie man laughs leaft : 

For wit is newes only to ignorance. 

Leffe at thine own things laugh ; left in the jeft 

Thy perfon fhare, and the conceit advance. 
Make not thy fport, abufes : for the fly, 
That feeds on dung, is coloured thereby. 

Pick out of mirth, like ftones out of thy ground, 

Profaneneffe, filthineffe, abufiveneffe, 

Thefe are the fcumme, with which courfe wits abound: 

The fine may fpare thefe well, yet not go leffe. 

All things are bigge with jeft : nothing that's plain 
But may be wittie, if thou haft the vein. 

Wit's an unruly engine, wildly ftriking 
Sometimes a friend, fometimes the engineer : 
Haft thou the knack ? pamper it not with liking : 
But if thou want it, buy it not too deere. 
Many affecting wit beyond their power, 
Have got to be a deare fool for an houre. 

A fad wife valour is the brave complexion, 
That leads the van, and fwallows up the cities. 
The giggler is a milk-maid, whom infection, 
Or a fir'd beacon frighteth from his ditties. 

Then he's the fport : the mirth then in him refts, 
And the fad man is cock of all his jefts.* 

Towards great perfons ufe refpective boldneffe : 

That temper gives them theirs, and yet doth take 

Nothing from thine : in fervice, care, or coldneffe 

Doth ratablyf thy fortunes marre or make. 

Feed no man in his finnes : for adulation 

Doth make thee parcell-devil in damnation. 

>i A 

* The ferious man wins the victory. 
-J- Proportionately. 



io Herbert's poems. 

Envie not greatneiTe * for thou mak'ft thereby 
Thyfelf the worfe, and fo the diftance greater. 
Be not thine own worm : yet mch jealoufie, 
As hurts not others, but may make thee better, 

Is a good fpurre. Correcl: thy paflions fpite ; 

Then may the beafts draw thee to happy light.* 

When bafeneffe is exalted, do not bate 

The place its honour, for the perfons fake. 

The fhrine is that which thou doft venerate ; 

And not the beaft, that bears it on his back. 
I care not though the cloth of ftate mould be 
Not of rich arras,t but mean tapeftrie.| 

Thy friend put in thy bofome : wear his eies 
Still in thy heart, that he may fee what's there. 
It caufe require, thou art his facrifice ; 
Thy drops of bloud muft pay down all his fear ; 

But love is loft ; the way of friendfhip's gone ; 

Though David had his Jonathan, Chrift his John. 

Yet be not furety, if thou be a father. 

Love is a perfonall debt. I cannot give 

My childrens right, nor ought he take it : rather 

Both friends mould die, than hinder them to live. 

Fathers firft enter bonds to natures ends ; 

And are her fureties, ere they are a friend's. 

If thou be fingle, all thy goods and ground 
Submit to love ; but yet not more then all. 
Give one eftate, as one life. None is bound 
To work for two. who brought himfelf to thrall. 



* The fanctified paflions become inftruments of a blefling. 
f Both words are ufed indifcriminately for cloth woven in 
regular figures. 



THE CHURCH PORCH. I I 

God made me one man ; love makes me no more, 
Till labour come, and make my weakneffe fcore. 

In thy difcourfe, if thou defire to pleafe : 
All fuch is courteous, ufefull, new, or wittie : 
UfefulnefTe comes by labour, wit by eafe ; 
Courtefie grows in court ; news in the citie. 

Get a good flock of thefe, then draw the card ; 

That fuites him beft, of whom thy fpeech is heard. 

Entice all neatly to what they know beft ; 

For fo thou doft thyfelf and him a pleafure : 

(But a proud ignorance will lofe his reft, 

Rather than fhew his cards) fteal from his treafure 
What to afk further. Doubts well-raif'd do lock 
The fpeaker to thee, and preferve thy ftock. 

If thou be Mafter-gunner, fpend not all 
That thou canft fpeak, at once ; but hufband it, 
And give men turns of fpeech :* do not foreftall 
By lavifhneiTe thine own, and others wit, 
As if thou mad' ft thy will. A civil gueft 
Will no more talk all, than eat all the feaft. 

Be calm in arguing : for fiercenefle makes 

Errour a fault, and truth difcourtefie. 

Why mould I feel another mans miftakes 

More, than his ficknefles or povertie ? 
In love I fhould : but anger is not love, 
Nor wifdome neither ; therefore gently move.f 

* " Let him be fure to leave other men their turns to fpeak. 
Nay, if there be any that would reign, and take up all the time, 
let him find means to take them off, and bring others on j as 
muficians ufe to do, with thofe that dance too long GalliaruV 
— Bacon's Essays, xxxii. 

f Mr. Coleridge faid, " I do not underftand this ftanza/' 
The obicurity lies in the fifth line. The poet teaches calmnefs 



12 HERBERTS POEMS. 

Calmneffe is great advantage : he that lets 
Another chafe, may warm him at his fire : 
Mark all his wandrings, and enjoy his frets ; 
As cunning fencers fuffer heat to tire. 

Truth dwels not in the clouds : the bow that's the 
Doth often aim at, never hit the fphere. 

Mark what another fayes : for many are 
Full of themfelves, and anfwer their own notion. 
Take all into thee ; then with equail care 
Ballance each dramme of reafon, like a potion. 
If truth be with thy friend, be with them both : 
Share in the conqueft, and confefle a troth. 

Be ufeful where thou liveft, that they may 
Both want, and wifh thy pleafing prefence ftill. 
KindnefTe, good parts, great places are the way 
To compaffe this. Finde out mens wants and will, 

And meet them there. All worldly joyes go leffe 

To the one joy of doing kindneffes. 

Pitch thy behaviour low, thy projects high : 
So fhalt thou humble and magnanimous be : 



in difputes by fhowing that intemperate zeal takes even the 
grace from truth. Then he afks, " why mould I feel," &c ? For 
example, a perfbn argues with me upon the climate of Egypt ; 
he is decidedly wrong. I try to correct him. But why mould 
I trouble myfelf with his geographical errors, when I take fo 
little note of his bodily wants ? 

" In love I mould, but anger is not love : ,J 

i. e., if I were warmly attached to this man, I might have fuch 
fentiments, which are the natural breathings of love, but anger 
has no relationfhip to that paflion 5 no, nor even that certainty 
of learning which is wifdom ; " therefore, gently move j" i. e. 
conduct the argument with fweetnefs and difcretion. 



THE CHURCH PORCH. 1 3 

Sink not in fpirit : who aimeth at the fky 
Shoots higher much than he that means a tree. 
A grain of glorie mixt with humblenefTe 
Cures both a fever and lethargicknefTe. 

Let thy minde ftill be bent, ftill plotting where, 
And when, and how the bufineffe may be done. 
SlacknefTe breeds worms ; but the fure traveller, 
Though he alight fometimes, ftill goeth on. 
Active and ftirring fpirits live alcne : 
Write on the others, Here lies fuch a one. 

Slight not the fmalleft loffe, whether it be 
In love or honour ; take account of all : 
Shine like the funne in every corner : fee 
Whether thy ftock of credit fwell or fall. 

Who fay, I care not, thofe I give for loft ; 

And to inftrudt them, 'twill not quit the coft. 

Scorn no mans love, though of a mean degree ; 

(Love is a prefent for a mightie king,) 

Much leffe make any one thine enemie. 

As gunnes deftroy, fo may a little fling. 
The cunning workman never doth refufe 
The meaneft tool, that he may chance to ufe. 

All forrain* wifdome doth amount to this, 
To take all that is given ; whether wealth, 
Or love, or language ; nothing comes amifle : 
A good digeftion turneth all to health : 
And then as farre as fair behaviour may, 
Strike off all fcores ; none are fo cleare as thev. 

Keep all thy native good, and naturalize 
All forrain of that name ; but fcorn their ill : 

* Foreign. 



14 HERBERTS POEMS. 

Embrace their a£Hvenefle, not vanities. 

Who follows all things, forfeiteth his will. 
If thou obferveft ftrangers in each fit, 
In time they'l runne thee out of all thy wit. 

Afreet in things about thee cleanlineffe, 
That all may gladly board thee, as a flowre. 
Slovens take up their flock of noifomenefle 
Beforehand, and anticipate their laft houre. 
Let thy mindes fweetnefs have his operation 
Upon thy body, clothes, and habitation. 

In Almes regard thy means, and others merit. 

Think heav'n a better bargain, then to give 

Onely thy fingle market-money for it. 

Joyn hands with God to make a man to live. 
Give to all fomething ; to a good poore man, 
Till thou change names, and be where he began. 

Man is Gods image ; but a poore man is 
Chrifts ftamp to boot ;* both images regard. 
God reckons for him, counts the favour his : 
Write, So much giv'n to God ; thou fhalt be heard. 
Let thy almes go before, and keep heav'ns gate 
Open for thee ; or both may come too late. 

Reftore to God his due in tithe and time : 
A tithe purloin' d cankers the whole eftate. 
Sundaies obferve : think when the bells do chime, f 
9 Tis angels mufick ; therefore come not late. 

* In addition. 

f Southey fays beautifully of the church chime, that " it is a 
mufic hallowed by all circumftances, which, according equally 
with focial exultation, and with folitary penfivenefs, though it 
falls upon many an unheeding ear, never fails to find fome hearts 
which it exhilarates, and fome which it foftens." 



THE CHURCH PORCH. 15 

God then deals bleflings : If a king did fo, 

Who would not hafte, nay give, to fee the fhow ? 

Twice on the day his due is underftood ; 
For all the week thy food fo oft he gave thee. 
Thy cheere is mended ; bate not of the food, 
Becaufe 'tis better, and perhaps may fave thee. 

Thwart not th' Almighty God : O be not croffe. 

Faft when thou wilt ; but then 'tis gain, not loffe. 

Though private prayer be a brave defigne, 
Yet publick hath more promifes, more love : 
And love's a weight to hearts, to eies a figne. 
We all are but cold fuitors ; let us move 

Where it is warmed. Leave thy fix and kven ; 

Pray with the moft : for where molt pray, is heaven. 

When once thy foot enters the church, be bare. 
God is more there, then thou : for thou art there 
Onely by his permiflion. Then beware, 
And make thyfelf all reverence and fear. 

Kneeling ne're fpoil'd filk flocking : quit thy ftate. 

All equall are within the churches gate. 

Refort to fermons, but to prayers moft : 
Praying's the end of preaching. O be dreft ; 
Stay not for th' other pin : why thou haft loft 
A joy for it worth worlds. Thus hell doth jeft 
Away thy bleftings, and extreamly flout* thee, 
Thy clothes being faft, but thy foul loofe about thee. 

In time of fervice feal up both thine eies, 
And fend them to thine heart ; that fpying finne, 
They may weep out the ftains by them did rife : 
Thofe doores being fhut, all by the eare comes in. 

* Mock. 



l6 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Who marks in church-time others fymmetrie, 
Makes all their beautie his deformitie. 






Let vain or bufie thoughts have there no part : 

Bring not thy plough, thy plots, thy pleafures thither. 

Chrift purg'd his temple $ fo mull thou thy heart. 

All worldly thoughts are but theeves met together 
To couzin* thee. Look to thy actions well \ 
For churches either are our heav'n or hell. 

Judge not the preacher ; for he is thy Judge : 
If thou miflike him, thou conceiv'ft him not. 
God calleth preaching folly. Do not grudge 
To pick out treafures from an earthen pot. 

The worft fpeak fomething good : if all want fenfe, 
God takes a text, and preacheth patience. 

He that gets patience, and the bleffing which 
Preachers conclude with, hath not loft his pains. 
He that by being at church efcapes the ditch, 
Which he might fall in by companions, gains. 
He that loves Gods abode, and to combine 
With faints on earth, mail one day with them mine. 

Jeft not at preachers language or expreflion : 
How know' ft thou, but thy finnes made him mifcarrie ? 
Then turn thy faults and his into confeflion : 
God fent him, whatfoe'er he be : O tarry, 
And love him for his Mafter : his condition, 
Though it be ill, makes him no ill Phyfician. 

None mail in hell fuch bitter pangs endure 
As thofe, who mock at Gods way of falvation. 
Whom oil and balfames kill, what falve can cure ? 
They drink with greedinefle a full damnation. 

* Deceive. 



THE CHURCH. 17 

The Jews refufed thunder ; and we, folly. 
Though God do hedge us in, yet who is holy? 

Summe up at night, what thou haft done by day;* 
And in the morning, what thou haft to do. 
Dreflef and undrefle thy foul : mark the decay 
And growth of it : if with thy watch, that too 
Be down, then winde up both, fince we fhall be 
Moft furely judg'd, make thy accounts agree. 

In brief, acquit thee bravely; play the man. 

Look not on pleafures as they come, but go. 

Defer not the leaft vertue : lifes poore fpan 

Make not an ell, by trifling in thy wo. 

If thou do ill y the joy fades, not the pains : 
If well ; the pain doth fade, the joy remains. 



THE CHURCH. 

Superliminare4 

THOU, whom the former precepts have 
Sprinkled and taught, how to behave 
Thy felf in church ; approach, and tafte 
The churches myfticall repaft. 

* So Sir Charles Bavvdin, in Chatterton's Briftowe tragedy : 

And none can fay but alle my lyffe, 

I have his wordyes kept j 
And lummed the a&ions of the day 

Eche nighte before I flept. 

f To drefs a foul for a funeral is not a work to be difpatchtd 
at one meeting." — Taylor, Holy Dying, ch. v. 2. 
I The Threfhold. 

C 



Herbert's poems. 

Avoid profaneneffe ; come not here : 
Nothing but holy, pure, and cleare, 
Or that which groneth to be fo, 
May at his perill further go. 



The Altar. 

A BROKEN Altar, Lord, thy fervant reares, 
Made of a heart, and cemented with teares : 
Whofe parts are as thy hand did frame ; 
No workmans tool hath touch'd the fame. 

A Heart alone 

Is fuch a ftone, 

As nothing but 

Thy pow'r doth cut. 

Wherefore each part 

Of my hard heart 

Meets in this frame, 

To praife thy name : 
That, if I chance to hold my peace, 
Thefe ftones to praife thee may not ceafe. 
O let thy blefled Sacrifice be mine, 
And fan&ifie this Altar to be thine. 



The Sacrifice. 

OH all ye, who paffe by, whofe eyes and minde 
To worldly things are fharp, but to me blinde ; 
To me, who took eyes that I might you finde : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 



THE CHURCH. I9 

The Princes of my people make a head 
Againft their Maker : they do wifh me dead, 
Who cannot wifh, except I give them bread : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Without me each one, who doth now me brave, 
Had to this day been an Egyptian flave. 
They ufe that power againlt me, which I gave : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Mine own Apoftle, who the bag did beare, 
Though he had all I had, did not forbeare 
To fell me alfo, and to put me there : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

For thirtie pence he did my death devife, 
Who at three hundred did the ointment prize, 
Not half fo fweet as my fweet facrifice : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Therefore my foul melts, and my hearts deare treafure 
Drops bloud (the only beads) my words to meafure : 
O let this cup pafle, if it be thy pleafure : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Thefe drops being temper'd with a finners tears, 
A Balfome are for both the Hemifpheres, 
Curing all wounds, but mine : all, but my fears. 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Yet my Difciples fleep : I cannot gain 
One houre of watching ; but their drowfie brain 
Comforts not me, and doth my do&rine ftain : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 
c 2 



20 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Arife, arife, they come. Look how they runne 
Alas ? what hafte they make to be undone ! 
How with their lanterns do they feek the funne ! 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

With clubs and ftaves they feek me, as a thief^ 
Who am the way of truth, the true relief, 
Moft true to thofe who are my greater!: grief: 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Judas, doft thou betray me with a kifTe ? 
Canft thou finde hell about my lips ? and mifle 
Of life, juft at the gates of life and blifle ? 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

See, they lay hold on me, not with the hands 
Of faith, but furie ; yet at their commands 
I fufFer binding, who have looPd their bands : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

All my Difciples flie ; fear puts a barre 
Betwixt my friends and me. They leave the ftarre* 
That brought the wife men of the Eaft from farre : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Then from one ruler to another bound 
They leade me : urging, that it was not found 
What I taught : Comments would the text confound. 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

The Priefts and rulers all falfe witnefle feek 
'Gainft him, who feeks not life, but is the meek 
And readie Pafchal Lambe of this great week : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 



THE CHURCH. 21 

Then they accufe me of great blafphemie, 
That I did thruft into the Deitie, 
Who never thought that any robberie : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Some said, that I the Temple to the floore 
In three days raz'd,* and raifed as before. 
Why, he that built the world can do much more : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Then they condemne me all with that fame breath, 
Which I do give them daily, unto death. 
Thus Adam my firft breathing rendereth : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

They binde, and leade me unto Herod : he 
Sends me to Pilate. This makes them agree ; 
But yet their friendfhip is my enmitie. 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Herod and all his bands do fet me light, 
Who teach all hands to warre, fingers to fight, 
And onely am the Lord of hofts and might. 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Herod in judgment fits, while I do ftand ; 

Examines me with a cenforious hand : 

I him obey, who all things elfe command : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

The Jews accufe me with defpitefulnefTe ; 
And vying malice with my gentlenefle, 
Pick quarrels with their onely happinefTe : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

* Overthrew. 



22 HERBERT'S POEMS. 

I anfwer nothing, but with patience prove 
If ftonie hearts will melt with gentle love. 
But who does hawk at eagles with a dove ? 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

My filence rather doth augment their crie ; 
My dove doth back into my bofome flie, 
Becaufe the raging waters ftill are high : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Hark how they crie aloud ftill, Crucifie : 
It is not fit he live a day, they crie, 
Who cannot live lefTe than eternally : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Pilate a ftranger holdeth dfF ; but they, 
Mine own deare people, cry, Away, away, 
With noifes confufed frighting the day : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Yet ftill they fhout, and crie, and flop their eares, 
Putting my life among their finnes and fears, 
And therefore wifh my bloud on them and theirs : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

See how fpite cankers things. Thefe words aright 
Ufed, and wifhed, are the whole worlds light : 
But hony is their gall, brightnefTe their night : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

They choofe a murderer, and all agree 

In him to do themfelves a courtefie - 

For it was their own caufe who killed me : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 



THE CHURCH. 

And a feditious murderer he was : 
But I the Prince of peace; peace that doth pafTe 
All underftanding, more than heav'n doth glafle : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Why, Cefar is their onely King, not I : 

He clave the ftonie rock, when they were drie \ 

But furely not their hearts, as I well trie : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Ah ! how they fcourge me ! yet my tenderneffe 
Doubles each lafh : and yet their bitternefle 
Windes up my grief to a myfterioufneffe : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

They buffet me, and box me as they lift, 
Who grafp the earth and heaven with my fift, 
And never yet, whom I would punifh, miff'd : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Behold, they fpit on me in fcornfull wife \ 
Who by my fpittle gave the blinde man eies, 
Leaving his blindneffe to mine enemies : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

My face they cover, though it be divine. 

As Mofes face was vailed, fo is mine, 

Left on their double-dark fouls either mine : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Servants and abje&s flout me -, they are wittie : 
Now prophefie who ftrikes thee, is their dittie. 
So they in me denie themfelves all pitie : 

Was evei grief like mine ? 



n 



24 Herbert's poems. 

And now I am deliver'd unto death, 

Which each one cals for fo with utmoft breath, 

That he before me well-nigh fufrereth : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Weep not, deare friends, fince I for both have wept : 
When all my tears were bloud, the while you flept : 
Your tears for your own fortunes mould be kept : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

The fouldiers lead me to the common hall ; 
There they deride me, they abufe me all; 
Yet for twelve heav'nly legions I could call : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Then with a fcarlet robe they me aray; 
Which fhews my bloud to be the onely way, 
And cordiall left to repair mans decay : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Then on my head a crown of thorns I wear; 
For thefe are all the grapes Sion doth bear, 
Though I my vine planted and watred there : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

So fits the earths great curfe in Adams fall 
Upon my head; fo I remove it all 
From th' earth unto my brows, and bear the thrall : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Then with the reed they gave to me before, 

They ftrike my head, the rock from whence all flore 

Of heav'nly bleffings iffue evermore : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 



THE CHURCH. 25 

They bow their knees to me, and cry, Hail king : 
What ever fcoffes or fcornfulneffe can bring, 
I am the floore, the fink, where they it fling : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Yet fince mans fcepters are as frail as reeds, 
And thorny all their crowns, bloudie their weeds ; 
I, who am Truth, turn into truth their deeds : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

The fouldiers alfo fpit upon that face 
Which Angels did defire to have the grace, 
And Prophets once to fee, but found no place : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Thus trimmed forth they bring me to the rout, 
Who Crucifie him, crie with one ftrong fhout. 
God holds his peace at man, and man cries out : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

They leade me in once more, and putting then 
Mine own clothes on, they leade me out agen. 
Whom devils flie, thus is he tofPd of men : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

And now wearie of fport, glad to ingroffe 
All fpite in one, counting my life their loffe, 
They carrie me to my moft bitter croffe : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

My croffe I bear my felf, untill I faint : 
Then Simon bears it for me by conftraint, 
The decreed burden of each mortall Saint : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 



26 Herbert's poems. 

O all ye who paffe by, behold and fee : 

Man ftole the fruit, but I muft climbe the tree ; 

The tree of life to all, but onely me : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Lo, here I hang, charg'd with a world of finne, 
The greater world o' th' two y for that came in 
By words, but this by forrow I muft win : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Such forrow, as if finful man could feel, 
Or feel his part, he would not ceafe to kneel, 
Till all were melted, though he were all fteel. 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

But, O my God, my God ! why leav'ft thou me, 
The fonne, in whom thou doft delight to be ? 

My God, my God 

Never was grief like mine. 

Shame tears my foul, my bodie many a wound ; 
Sharp nails pierce this, but fharper that confound ; 
Reproches, which are free, while I am bound : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

Now heal thyfelf, Phyfician ; now come down. 
Alas ! I did fo, when I left my crown 
And fathers fmile for you, to feel his frown : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

In healing not myfelf, there doth confift 
All that falvation, which ye now refift ; 
Your fafetis in my ficknefle doth fubfift : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 



THE CHURCH. 

Jetwixt two theeves I fpend my utmoft breath, 
As he that for fome robberie fuffcreth, 
Alas ! what have I ftollen from you ? death : 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

king my title is, prefixt on high ; 
r et by my fubjects am condemn'd to die 
fervile death in fervile companie : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

"hey gave me vineger mingled with gall, 
But more with malice : yet, when they did call, 
With Manna, Angels food, I fed them all : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

They part my garments, and by lot difpofe 

My coat, the type of love, which once cur'd thofe 

Who fought for help, never malicious foes : 

Was ever grief like mine ? 

Nay, after death their fpite fhall further go ; 
For they will pierce my fide, I full well know -> 
That as finne came, fo Sacraments might flow: 
Was ever grief like mine ? 

But now I die ; now all is finifhed. 

My wo, mans weal:* and now I bow my head : 

Onely let others fay, when I am dead, 

Never was grief like mine. 



2 7 



* Good. 



28 Herbert's poems. 

The Thankfgiving. 

OH King of grief ! (a title ftrange, yet true, 
To thee of all kings onely due) 
Oh King of v/ounds ! how fhall I grieve for thee, 

Who in all grief preventeft me ? 
Shall I weep bloud ? why, thou haft wept fuch ftore, 

That all thy body was one doore. 
Shall I be fcourged, flouted, boxed, fold ? 

'Tis but to tell the tale is told. 
My God, my God, why doft thou part from me ? 

Was fuch a grief as cannot be. 
Shall I then fing, flapping, thy dolefull ftorie, 

And fide with thy triumphant glorie ? 
Shall thy ftrokes be my ftroking ? thorns, my flower ? 

Thy rod, my pofie ? crofle, my bower ? 
But how then fhall I imitate thee, and 

Copie thy fair, though bloudie hand ? 
Surely I will revenge me on thy love, 

And trie who fhall victorious prove. 
If thou doft g\ve me wealth ; I will reftore 

All back unto thee by the poore. 
If thou doft give me honour ; men fhall fee, 

The honour doth belong to thee. 
I will not marry; or, if fhe be mine, 

She and her children fhall be thine. 
My bcfome friend, if he blafpheme thy name, 

I will tear thence his love and fame. 
One half of me being gone, the reft I give 

Unto fome Chapell, die or live. 
As for thy paflion — But of that anon, 

When with the other I have done. 
For thy predeftination, Tie contrive, 

That three years hence, if I furvive, 



THE CHURCH. 



2 9 



I'le build a fpittle,* or mend common wayes, 

But mend mine own without delay es. 
Then I will ufe the works of thy creation, 

As if I uPd them but for a fafhion. 
The world and I will quarrell ; and the yeare 

Shall not perceive, that I am here. 
My mufick mail finde thee, and ev'ry firing 

Shall have his attribute to fing - y 
That all together may accord in thee, 

And prove one God, one harmonic 
If thou malt give me wit, it mail appeare, 

If thou haft giv'n it me, 'tis here. 
Nay, I will reade thy booke, and never move 

Till I have found therein thy love ; 
Thy art of love, which Tie turn back on thee, 

Oh my deare Saviour, Vidlorie ! 
Then for thy paflion — 1 will do for that — 

Alas, my God, I know not what. 



I 



The Reprifall. 

HAVE confiderd it, and finde 
There is no dealing with thy mighty paflion ? 
For though I die for thee, I am behinde ; 

My finnes deferve the condemnation. 

O make me innocent, that I 
May give a difentangled ftate and free ; 
And yet thy wounds ftill my attempts defie, 

For by thy death I die for thee. 

* An old colloquial abbreviation of hofpital. 



30 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Ah ! was it not enough that thou 
By thy eternall glorie didft outgo me ? 
Couldft thou not griefs fad conquefts me allow, 

But in all vi&'ries overthrow me ? 

Yet by confeflion will I come 
Into the conqueft. Though I can do nought 
Againft thee, in thee I will overcome 

The man, who once againft thee fought.* 



The Agonie. 



PHILOSOPHERS have meafured mountains, 
Fathom'd the depths of feas, of ftates,and kings, 
Walk'd with a ftaffe to heav'n, and traced fountains : 

But there are two vaft, fpacious things, 
The which to meafure it doth more behove : 
Yet few there are that found them ; Sinne and Love. 

Who would know Sinne, let him repair 
Unto mount Olivet ; there fhall he fee 
A man fo wrung with pains, that all his hair, 

His fkinne, his garments bloudie be. 
Sinne is that preflef and vice, which forceth pain 
To hunt his cruell food through ev'ry vein. 

Who knows not Love, let him afTay, 
And tafte that juice, which on the croffe a pike 
Did fet again abroach ; % then let him fay 

If ever he did tafte the like. 



* The old man in the heart, fubdued by grace, 
f " I have trodden the wine-prefs alone." — Iiaiah lxiii. 3 
% A word of Chaucer, to tap. 



THE CHURCH. 



3* 



Love is that liquour fweet and mod divine, 
Which my God feels as bloud ; but I, as wine. 



The Sinner. 

LORD, how I am all ague, when I feek 
What I have treafur'd in my memorie ! 

Since, if my foul make even with the week, 
Each feventh note by right is due to thee. 
I finde there quarries of pil'd vanities, 

But fhreds of holinefle, that dare not venture 

To (hew their face, fince croffe to thy decrees : 
There the circumference earth is, heav'n the centre. 
In fo much dregs the quinteffence is fmall : 

The fpirit and good extract of my heart 

Comes to about the many hundredth part. 
Yet, Lord, reftore thine image, heare my call: 

And though my hard heart fcarce to thee can 
grone, 

Remember that thou once didft write in ftone. 



o 



Good Friday. 

MY chief good, 

How mail I meafure out thy bloud ? 
How mail I count what thee befell, 
And each grief tell ? 

Shall I thy woes 
Number according to thy foes ? 
Or, fince one ftarre fhow'd thy firft breath, 

Shall all thy death ? 



32 Herbert's poems. 

Or fliall each leaf. 
Which falls in Autumne, fcore* a grief f 
Or cannot leaves, but fruit, be figne, 

Of the true vine ? 

Then let each houre 
Of my whole life one grief devoure ; 
That thy diftrefle through all may runne, 

And be my funne. 

Or rather let 
My feverall finnes their forrows get -> 
That as each beaft his cure doth know, 

Each finne may fo. 

Since bloud is fitteft, Lord, to write 

Thy forrows in, and bloudie fight ; 

My heart hath ftore ; write there, where in 

One box doth lie both ink and finne : 

That when finne fpies fo many foes, 
Thy whips, thy nails, thy wounds, thy woes, 
All come to lodge there, finne may fay, 
No room for me, and flie away* 

Sinne being gone, oh fill the place, 
And keep poffeflion with thy grace ; 
Left finne take courage and return, 
And all the writings blot or burn. 



Redemption. 



HAVING been tenant long to a rich Lord, 
Not thriving, I refolved to be bold, 
And make a fuit unto him, to afford 
A new fmall-rented leafe, and cancell th' old. 



Mark or notch. 



THE CHURCH. 3J 

In heaven at his manour I him {'ought : 

They told me there, that he was lately gone 
About fome land, which he had dearly bought 

Long fince on earth, to take pofTerlion. 

I ftraight return'd, and knowing his great birth, 
Sought him accordingly in great reforts ; 
In cities, theatres, gardens, parks, and courts : 

At length I heard a ragged noife and mirth 

Of theeves and murderers : there I him efpied, 
Who ftraight, Your fuit is granted, faid, and died. 



Sepulchre. 



O BLESSED bodie ! Whither art thou thrown ? 
No lodging for thee, but a cold hard ftone r 
So many hearts on earth, and yet not one 

Receive thee ? 

Sure there is room within our hearts good ftore ; 
For they can lodge tranfgreflions by the fcore : 
Thoufands of toyes dwell there, yet out of doore 

They leave thee. 

But that which fhews them large, fhews them unfit. 
Whatever finne did this pure rock commit, 
Which holds thee now ? Who hath indited it 

Of murder ? 






34 Herbert's poems. 

Where our hard hearts have took up ftones to brain* 

thee, 
And miffing this, moft falfely did arraigne thee \ 
Onely thefe ftones in quiet entertain thee, 

And order. 

And as of old, the law by heav'nly art, 
Was writ in ftone ; fo thou, which alfo art 
The letter of the word, iind'ft no fit heart 

To hold thee. 

Yet do we ftill perfift as we began, 

And fo mould perifh, but that nothing can, 

Though it be cold, hard, foul, from loving man 

Withhold thee. 



Eafter. 

RISE heart ; thy Lord is rifen. Sing his praife 
Without delayes, 
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewife 

With him mayft rife : 
That, as his death calcined thee to duft, 
His life may make thee gold, and much more juft. 

Awake, my lute, and ftruggle for thy part 

With all thy art 

The croffe taught all wood to refound his name 

Who bore the fame. 

His ftretched finews taught all firings, what key 

Is beft to celebrate this moft high day. 

* To beat out the brains ; hence comes the modern phrafe, to 
" knock a fcheme upon the head." 



THE CHURCH. 35 

Confort both heart and lute, and twift a fong 

Pleafant and long : 

Or fince all mufick is but three parts vied* 

And multiplied ; 

let thy blefled Spirit bear a part, 

And make up our defects with his fweet art. 

1 got me flowers to ftraw thy way ; 
I got me boughs ofF many a tree : 
But thou waft up by break of day, 

And broughtft thy fweets along with thee. 

The Sunne arifing in the Eaft, 

Though he give light, and th' Eaft perfume ; 

If they fhould offer to conteft 

With thy arifing, they prefume. 

Can there be any day but this, 
Though many funnes to fhine endeavour ? 
We count three hundred, but we mifTe : 
There is but one, and that one ever. 



* To " vie" was a term ufed in an old game of cards, called 
Gluck ; here it means the contrails in mufic, where each variation 
appears to contend with the other. 



D 2 



36 Herbert's poems. 

Eafter Wings. 

LORD, who createdft man in wealth and ftore, 
Though foolifhly he loft the fame. 
Decaying more and more, 
Till he became 
Moft poor : 

With thee 
O let me rife 
As larks, harmonioufly, 
And fing this day thy Victories : 
Then mail the fall further the flight in me. 

My tender age in forrow did beginne : 
And ftill with fickneffes and fhame 
Thou didft fo punifh finne, 
That I became 
Moft thinne. 

With thee 
Let me combine, 
And feel this day thy vi&orie, 
For, if I imp my wing on thine, 
Affliction mail advance the flight in me. 



Holy Baptifme. 



AS he that fees a dark and fhadie grove, 
Stayes not, but looks beyond it on the fkie ; 
So when I view my finnes, mine eyes remove 
More backward ftill, and to that water flie, 



THE CHURCH. 37 

Which is above the heav'ns, whofe fpring and rent 
Is in my dear Redeemers pierced fide. 
O blcfled ftreams ! cither ye do prevent 

And Hop our finnes from growing thick and wide, 

Or elfe give tears to drown them, as they grow. 
In you Redemption meafures all my time, 
And fpreads the plaifter equall to the crime : 

You taught the book of life my name, that fo, 
Whatever future finnes mould me mifcall, 
Your firft acquaintance might difcredit all. 



Holy Baptifme. 



SINCE, Lord, to thee 
A narrow way and little gate 
Is all the paffage, on my infancie 

Thou didft lay hold and antedate 
My faith in me. 

O let me frill 
Write thee great God, and me a childe : 
Let me be foft and fupple to thy will, 

Small to myfelf, to others milde, 
Behither* ill. 

Although by ftealth 
My flefh get on ; yet let her fifter 
My foul bid nothing, but preferve her wealth : 
The growth of flefh is but a blifter ; 
Childhood is health. f 

* On this fide of, or except in anything evil. 

f So Chryfoftom : "The office of repentance is, when they 
have been made new, and then become old through fins, to free 
them from their oldnefs, and make them new j but it cannut 



3^ Herbert's poems. 



Nature. 

FULL of rebellion, I would die, 
Or fight, or travell, or denie 
That thou haft ought to do with me. 

O tame my heart ; 
It is thy higheft art 
To captivate ftrong holds to thee. 






If thou fhalt let this venome lurk, 
And in fuggeftions fume and work, 
My foul will turn to bubbles ftraight, 

And thence by kinde 
Vaniih into a winde, 
Making thy workmanfhip deceit. 

O fmooth my rugged heart, and there 
Engrave thy rev'rend law and fear ; 
Or make a new one, fince the old 

Is fapleffe grown, 
And a much fitter ftone 
To hide my duft, then thee to hold. 



Sinne. 

LORD, with what care haft thou begirt us round ! 
Parents firft feafon us : then fchoolmafters 
Deliver us to laws ; they fend us bound 
To rules of reafon, holy meffengers, 

bring them to their former brightnefs ; for then the whole was 
good." 



THE CHURCH. 39 

Pulpits and fundayes, forrow* dogging fume, 
Afflictions forted, anguifh of all fixes, 
Fine nets and ftratagems to catch us in, 

Bibles laid open, millions of furprifes, 

Bleflings beforehand, tyes of gratefulneffe, 

The found of glorie ringing in our eares ; 
Without, our ihame ; within, our confciences ; 

Angels and grace, eternall hopes and fears. 

Yet all thefe fences and their whole aray 
One cunning bofome-finne blows quite away. 



Affliaion.t 



"HEN firft thou didft entice to thee my heart, 
I thought the fervice brave : 
So many joyes I writ down for my part, 

Befides what I might have 
Out of my frock of naturall delights, 
Augmented with thy gracious benefits. 



* Fear dread events that dog them both. — Com us, 405. 

f " He would often fay, ' he had too thoughtful a wit j a 
wit like a penknife, in too narrow a fheath, too fharp for his 
body.' But his mother would by no means allow him to leave 
the Univerfity, or to travel ; and though he inclined very much 
to both, yet he could by no means fatiir'y his own defires at (o 
dear a rate, as to prove an undutiful fon to fo affectionate a 
mother j but did always fubmit to her wifdom. And what I 
have now faid may partly appear in a copy of verles in his 
printed Poems j it is one of thofe that bear the title of ' Afflic- 
tion.' " — Isaak Walton. 



40 HERBERT S POEMS. 

I looked on thy furniture fo fine, 

, And made it fine to me ; 
Thy glorious houihold-ftuffe did me entwine, 

And 'tice me unto thee. 
Such ftarres I counted mine : both heav'n and earth 
Payd me my wages in a world of mirth. 

What pleafures could I want, whofe King I ferved, 
Where joyes my fellows were ? 

Thus argu'd into hopes, my thoughts referved 
No place for grief or fear ; 

Therefore my fudden foul caught at the place, 

And made her youth and fierceneffe feek thy face : 

At firft thou gav'ft me milk and fweetneffes ; 

I had my wifh and v/ay : 
My days were ftraw'd with flow'rs and happinefTes ; 

There was no moneth* but May. 
But with my yeares forrow did twin 1 and grow, 
And made a party unawares for wo. 

My flefh began f unto my foul in pain, 

SicknerTes cleave my bones, 

Confuming agues dwell in ev'ry vein, 

And tune my breath to grones : 

Sorrow was all my foul : I fcarce beleeved, 

Till grief did tell me roundly, that I lived. 



* Month. 

f An old idiom ftill ufed in Scotland 5 it is found in Shake- 
1'pere : — 

" Then ' began' the tempeft to my foul. 11 

Richard III., Act i. fc. 4. 



THE CHURCH. 41 

When I got health, thou took'ft away my life, 

And more ; for my friends die : 

My mirth and edge was loft ; a blunted knife 
Was of more ufe then 1. 

Thus thinne and lean without a fence or friend, 

I was blown through with ev'ry ftorm and winde. 

Whereas my birth and fpirit rather took 

The way that takes the town ; 

Thou didft betray me to a lingring book, 
And wrap me in a gown. 

I was entangled in the world of ftrife, 

Before I had the power to change my life. 

Yet, for I threatned oft the fiege to raife, 

Not fimpring all mine age, 

Thou often didft with Academick praife 

Melt and difiblve my rage. 

I took thy fweetened pill, till I came neare ; 

I could not go away, nor perfevere. 

Yet left perchance I mould too happie be 

In my unhappinefTe, 
Turning my purge to food, thou throweft me 

Into more fickneffes. 
Thus doth thy power crofs-bias* me, not making 
Thine own gift good, yet me from my ways taking. 

Now I am here, what thou wilt do with me 

None of my books will mow : 

I reade, and figh, and wifh I were a tree ; 

For fure then I fhould grow 

* An image taken from the bowling-green. So Donne, 
fpeaking of little fins leading a man to greater : c * it is impoflible 
to say where a bowl may lie, that is let fall down a hill, though 
it be let never lb gently out of the hand." — Serm. cliii. 



4* 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



To fruit or fliade : at leaft fome bird would truft 
Her houfhold to me, and I mould be juft. 

Yet, though thou troubled me, I muft be meek ; 

In weakneffe muft be ftout. 
Well, I will change the fervice, and go feek 

Some other matter out. 
Ah my deare God ! though I am clean forgot, 
Let me not love thee, if I love thee not. 



Repentance. 



V 



ORD, I confeffe my finne is great ; 
Great is my finne. Oh ! gently treat 
With thy quick flow'r, thy momentarie bloom ; 
Whofe life ftill preffing 
Is one undrefling, 
A fteadie aiming at a tombe. 

Mans age is two houres work, or three ; 
Each day doth round about us fee. 
Thus are we to delights : but we are all 

To forrows old, 

Iflifebetold 
From what life feeleth, Adams fall. 

O let thy height of mercie then 
Companionate fhort-breathed men, 
Cut me not off for my moft foul tranfgreffion : 

I do confeffe 

My foolifhneffe ; 
My God, accept of my confeffion. 



THE CHURCH. 4^ 

Sweeten at length this bitter bowl, 
Which thou halt pour'd into my foul ; 
Thy wormwood turn to health, windes to fair weather : 

For if thou ftay, 

I and this day, 
As we did rife, we die together. 

When thou for finne rebukeft man, 
Forthwith he waxeth wo and wan : 
Bitterneffe fills our bowels ; all our hearts 
Pine, and decay, 
And drop away, 
And carrie with them th' other parts. 

But thou wilt finne and grief deftroy ; 

That fo the broken bones may joy,* 
And tune together in a well-fet fong, 
Full of his praifes 
Who dead men raifes. 

Fractures well cur'd make us more ftrong. 



Faith. 



LORD, how couldft thou fo much appeafe 
Thy wrath for finne, as when mans fight 
was dimme, 
And could fee little, to regard his eafe 

And bring by Faith all things to him ? 

* "Thou (halt make me hear of joy and gladnefs, that the 
bones which thou haft broken may rejoice. 11 — Psa. li. 9. 



44 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Hungrie I was, and had no meat : 
I did conceit a moft delicious feaft ; 
I had it ftraight, and did as truly eat, 

As ever did a welcome gueft. 

There is a rare outlandilh root, 
Which when I could not get, I thought it here : 
That apprehenfion cur'd fo well my foot, 

That I can walk to heav'n well neare. 

I owed thoufands and much more : 
I did believe that I did nothing owe, 
And liv'd accordingly; my creditor 

Beleeves fo too, and lets me go. 

Faith makes me any thing, or all 
That I beleeve is in the facred ftorie : 
And where finne placeth me in Adams fall, 

Faith fets me higher in his glorie. 

If I go lower in the book, 
What can be lower than the common manger ? 
Faith puts me there with him, who fweetly took 

Our flefh and frailtie, death and danger. 

If bliffe had lien in art or ftrength, 
None but the wife or ftrong had gained it : 
Where now by Faith all arms are of a length , 

One fize doth all conditions fit. 

A peafant may beleeve as much 
As a great Clerk, and reach the higheft ftature. 
Thus doft thou make proud knowledge bend and crouch, 

While grace fills up uneven nature. 

When creatures had no reall light 
Inherent in them, thou didft make the funne, 
Impute a luftre, and allow them bright : 

And in this mew, what Chrift hath done. 



THE CHURCH. 45 

That which before was darlcncd clean 
With bufhie groves, pricking the lookers eie, 
Vanifht away, when Faith did change the fcene : 

And then appear'd a glorious ftie. 

What though my bodie run to duft ? 
Faith cleaves unto it, counting ev'ry grain, 
With an exact and moit particular truft, 

Referving all for flem again. 

Prayer. 

PRAYER, the Churches banquet, Angels age, 
Gods breath in man returning to his birth, 
The foul in paraphrafe, heart in pilgrimage, 
The Chriftian plummet founding heav'n and earth ; 

Engine againft th' Almightie, finner's towre, 

Reverfed thunder, Chrift-fide-piercing fpear, 
The fix-daies-world tranfpofing in an houre, 

A kinde of tune, which all things heare and fear ; 

SoftnefTe, and peace, and joy, and love, and bliffe, 
Exalted Manna, gladnefle of the heft, 
Heaven in ordinarie, man well dreft, 

The milkie way, the bird of Paradife, 

Church-bels beyond the ftars heard, the fouls bloud, 
The land of fpices, fomething underftood. 

The Holy Communion. 

NOT in rich furniture, or fine array, 
Nor in a wedge of gold, 
Thou, who from me waft fold, 
To me doft now thyfelf convey; 
For fo thou fhould'ft without me ftill have been, 
Leaving within me finne : 



46 Herbert's poems. 

But by the way of nourifhment and ftrength, 

Thou creep'ft into my breaft ; 

Making thy way my reft, 
And thy fmall quantities my length ; 
Which fpread their forces into every part, 

Meeting finnes force and art. 

Yet can thefe not get over to my foul, 

Leaping the wall that parts 

Our fouls and flefhly hearts ; 
But as th' outworks, they may controll 
My rebel-flefh, and carrying thy name, 

Affright both finne and fhame. 

Onely thy grace, which with thefe elements comes, 

Knoweth the ready way, 

And hath the privie key, 
Op'ning the fouls moft fubtile* rooms : 
While thofe to fpirits refin'd, at doore attend 

Defpatches from their friend. 

Give me my captive foul, or take 

My body alfo thither. 
Another lift like this will make 

Them both to be together. 

Before that finne turn'd flefh to ftone, 

And all our lump to leaven ; 
A fervent figh might well have blown 

Our innocent earth to heaven. 

For fure when Adam did not know 

To finne, or finne to fmother ; 
He might to heav'n from Paradife go, 

As from one room t' another. 

* The moil fine, delicate, or retired feelings. 



THE CHURCH. 47 

Thou haft reftor'd us to this eafe 

By this thy heav'nly bloud, 
Which I can go to, when I pleafe, 
And leave th' earth to their food. 



Antiphon.* 

Cbo. 1 ET all the world in ev'ry corner fing, 

I j My God and King. 

Vers. The heav'ns are not too high, 

His praife mav thither flie : 

The earth is not to low, 

His praifes there may grow. 

Cbo. Let all the world in ev'ry corner fing, 
My God and King. 

Vers. The church with pfalms muft fhout, 
No doore can keep them out : 
But above all, the heart 
Muft bear the longeft part. 

Cbo. Let all the world in ev'ry corner fing, 
My God and King. 



Love. 



IMMORTALL Love, authour of this great frame, 
Sprung from that beautie which can never fade ; 
How hath man parcel'd out thy glorious name, 
And thrown it on that duft which thou haft made. 

* The Chant, or finging of a choir in church j in which 
ftrain anfwers ilrain. 



48 Herbert's poems. 

While mortall love doth all the title gain ! 
Which Tiding with invention, they together 
Bear all the fway, poiTeffing heart and brain, 

(Thy workmanfhip) and give thee fhare in neither. 

Wit fancies beautie, beautie raifeth wit : 

The world is theirs ; they two play out the game, 
Thou {landing by : and though thy glorious name 

Wrought our deliverance from th' infernall pit, 

Who fmgs thy praife ? onely a fkarf or glove 
Doth warm our hands, and make them write of 
love. 



II. 

IMMORTALL Heat, O let thy greater flame 
Attract the leffer to it : let thole fires 
Which mall confume the world, hrft make it tame, 
And kindle in our hearts fuch true deilres, 

As may confume our lufts, and make thee way. 

Then fhall our hearts pant thee ; then mall our 
All her invention on thine Altar lay, [brain 

And there in hymnes fend back thy fire again : 

Our eies mail fee thee, which before faw duft ; 

Duft blown by wit, till that they both were blinde : 
Thou fhalt recover all thy gods in kinde, 

Who wert difTeized* by ufurping luft : 

All knees fhall bow to thee ; all wits fhall rife, 
And praife him who did make and mend our eies. 



DifpofTeiTed. 



THE CHURCH. 49 

The Temper. 

TOW fhould I praife thee, Lord ! how fhould 
my rymes 
Gladly engrave thy love in fteel, 
If what my foul doth feel fometimes, 
My foul might ever feel ! 

Although there were fome fourtie heav'ns or more, 
Sometimes I peere* above them all ; 
Sometimes I hardly reach a fcore, 
Sometimes to hell I fall. 

O rack me not to fuch a vaft extent ; 
Thofe diftances belong to thee: 
The world's too little for thy tent, 
A grave too big for me. 

Wilt thou meet arms with man, that thou doft ftretch 
A crumme of duft from heav'n to hell ? 
Will great God meafure with a wretch ? 
Shall he thy ftature fpell ? 

O let me, when thy roof my foul hath hid, 
O let me rooft and neftle there : 
Then of a finner thou art rid, 
And I of hope and fear. 

Yet take thy way; for fure thy way is beft : 
Stretch or contract me thy poore debter : 
This is but tuning of my breaft, 
To make the mufick better. 

* And hell itfelf will pafs away, 

And leave her dolorous maniions to the peering day." 

Milton : Ode on Nativity, 14.0. 
E 



50 Herbert's poems. 

Whether I flie with angels, fall with duft, 
Thy hands made both, and I am there. 
Thy power and love, my love and truft, 
Make one place everywhere. 



The Temper. 



IT cannot be. Where is that mightie joy. 
Which juft now took up all my heart ? 
Lord ! if thou muft needs ufe thy dart, 
Save that, and me ; or fin for both deftroy 

The groflfer world ftands to thy word and art ; 
But thy diviner world of grace 
Thou fuddenly doft raife and race,f 

And every day a new Creatour art. 

O fix thy chair of grace, that all my powers 
May alfo fix their reverence : 
For when thou doft depart from hence, 

They grow unruly, and fit in thy bowers. 

Scatter, or binde them all to bend to thee : 

Though elements change, and heaven move ; 
Let not thy higher Court remove, 

But keep a ftanding Majeftie in me. 



* Lord Herbert of Cherbury tells us that the only fault of his 
brother George was a quick and pafllonate temper, 
f Set out. 



THE CHURCH. 



Jordan. 



5* 



WHO fayes that fictions onely and falfe hair 
Become a verfe ? Is there in truth no beautie ? 
Is all good ftructure in a winding flair ? 
May no lines pafle, except they do their dutie 
Not to a true, but painted chair ? 

Is it not verfe, except enchanted groves 
And fudden arbours fhadow coarfe-fpunne lines ? 
Muft purling ftreams refrefh a lover's loves ? 
Mult all be vail'd, while he that reades, divines, 
Catching the fenfe at two removes ? 

Shepherds are honeft people let them fing : 
Riddle who lift, for me, and pull for Prime. f 
I envie no mans nightingale or fpring ; 
Nor let them punifh me with lofs of ryme, 
Who plainly fay, My God, My King. 



Employment. 



IF as a flowre doth fpread and die, 
Thou wouldft extend me to fome good, 
Before I were bv frofts extremitie 

Nipt in the bud ; 

The fweetnefle and the praife were thine ; 
But the extenfion and the room, 
Which in thy garland I mould fill, were mine 
At thy great doom. 

* Donne, in his fecond fatire, fpeaks of " Maids pulling prime/ 
but Nares was unable to explain the phrafe. 
E 2 



52 Herbert's poems. 

For as thou doft impart thy grace, 
The greater fliall our glorie be. 
The meafure of our joyes is in this place, 

The ftuffe with thee. 

Let me not languifh then, and fpend 
A life as barren to thy praife 
As is the dull, to which that life doth tend, 
But with delaies. 

All things are bufie \ only I 
Neither bring hony with the bees, 
Nor flowres to make that, nor the hufbandrie 
To water thefe. 

I am no link of thy great chain, 
But all my companie is a weed. 
Lord, place me in thy con fort ; give one ftrain 
To my poore reed. 



The Holy Scriptures. 



PART I. 

OH Book ! infinite fweetneffe ! let my heart 
Suck ev'ry letter, and a hony gain, 
Precious for any grief in any part ; 
To cleare the breaft, to mollifie all pain. 

Thou art all health, health thriving, till it make 

A full eternitie : thou art a maffe 

Of ftrange delights, where we may wifh and take. 
Ladies, look here \ this is the thankfull glafle, 



THE CHURCH. 



53 



That mends the lookers eyes : this is the well 
That waftes what it fhows. Who can indeare 
Thy praife too much ? thou art heav'ns Lidger* here, 

Working againft the ftates of death and hell. 

Thou art joyes handfell :f heav'n lies flat in thee, 
Subject to ev'ry mounters bended knee. 



PART II. 

OH that I knew how all thy lights combine, 
And the configurations of their glorie ! 
Seeing not only how each verfe doth fhine, 
But all the conftellations of the ftorie. 

This verfe marks that, and both do make a motion 
Unto a third, that ten leaves off" doth lie : 
Then as difperfed herbs do match % a potion, 

Thefe three make up fome Chriftians deflinie. 

Such are thy fecrets, which my life makes good, 
And comments on thee : for in ev'ry thing 
Thy words do finde me out, and parallels bring, 

And in another make me underftood. 

Starres are poore books, and oftentimes do mifTe 
This book of ftarres lights to eternall blifle. 



* Leaguer, or confederate. 

f An earneft of fomething to follow. 

% All the editions read watch, which is evidently wrong ; 
match feems to make the line intelligible ; the fcattered herbs 
brought together from different places compole or make up the 
potion, or medicinal drink. 



54 HERBERT S POEMS. 



Whitfunday. 



LISTEN fweet Dove unto my fong, 
And fpread thy golden wings in me ; 
Hatching my tender heart fo long, 
Till it get wing, and flie away with thee. 

Where is that fire which once defcended 
On thy Apoftles ? thou didft then 
Keep open houfe, richly attended, 
Feafting all comers by twelve chofen men. 

Such glorious gifts thou didft beftow, 
That th 5 earth did like a heav'n appeare : 
The ftarres were coming down to know 
If they might mend their wages, and ferve here. 

The funne, which once did fhine alone, 
Hung down his head, and wifht for night, 
When he beheld twelve funnes for one 
Going about the world, and giving light. 

But fince thofe pipes of gold, which brought 
That cordiall water to our ground, 
Were cut and martyr'd by the fault 
Of thofe who did themfelves through their fide wound. 

Thou fhutt'ft the doore, and keep'ft within; 
Scarce a good joy creeps through the chink: 
And if the braves of conqu'ring finne 
Did not excite thee, we mould wholly fink. 



THE CHURCH PORCH. 55 

Lord, though we change, thou art the fame; 
The fame fweet God of love and light: 
Reftore this day, for thy great name, 
Unto his ancient and miraculous right. 



Grace. 



MY ftock lies dead, and no increafe 
Doth my dull hufbandrie improve 
O let thy graces without ceafe 

Drop from above! 

If ftill the funne mould hide his face, 
Thy houfe would but a dungeon prove, 
Thy works nights captives : O let grace 
Drop from above! 

The dew doth ev'ry morning fall ; 
And mail the dew outftrip thy dove ? 
The dew, for which grafle cannot call, 
Drop from above. 

Death is ftill working like a mole, 
And digs my grave at each remove : 
Let grace work too, and on my foul 
Drop from above. 

Sinne is ftill hammering my heart 
Unto a hardnefle, void of love : 
Let fuppling grace, to croffe his art, 
Drop from above. 



56 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



O come ! for tho\i doft know the way. 
Or if to me thou wilt not move, 
Remove me, where I need not fay — 
Drop from above. 



Praife. 



T 



O write a verfe or two, is all the praife, 
Tli at I can raife : 
Mend my eftate in any waves, 

Thou fhalt have more. 



I go to Church ; help me to wings, and I 
Will thither flie ; 
Or, if I mount unto the ikie, 
I will do more. 



Man is all weakneffe ; there is no fuch thing 
As Prince or King : 
His arm is fhort ; yet with a fling 
He may do more. 

A herb deftill'd, and drunk, may dwell next doore, 
On the fame floore, 
To a brave foul : Exalt the poore, 
They can do more. 

O raife me then ! poore bees, that work all day, 
Sting my delay, 
Who have a work, as well as they, 
And much, much more. 



THE CHURCH. 57 

Affliction. 

KILL mc not ev'ry day, 
Thou Lord of life ; fince thy one death for me 
Is more than all my deaths can be, 
Though I in broken pay 
Die over each hour of Methufalems ftay. 

If all mens tears were let 
Into one common fewer, fea, and brine ; 

What were they all, compar'd to thine ? 
Wherein if they were fet, 
They would difcolour thy moft bloudy fweat. 

Thou art my grief alone, 
Thou Lord conceal it not : and as thou art 
All my delight, fo all my fmart : 

Thy crofle took up in one, 
By way of impreft, all my future mone. 



I 



Mattens.* 

CANNOT ope mine eyes, 
But thou art ready there to catch 
My morning-foul and facrifice : 
Then we mull needs for that day make a match. 

My God, what is a heart ? 
Silver, or gold, or precious ftone, 
Or ftarre, or rainbow, or a part 
Of all thefe things, or all of them in one ? 

* Morning worfhip. 



58 Herbert's poems. 

My God, what is a heart, 
That thou fhouldft it fo eye, and woo, 
Powring upon it all thy art, 
As if that thou hadft nothing els to do ? 

Indeed man's whole eftate 

Amounts (and richly) to ferve thee : 

He did not heav'n and earth create. 

Yet ftudies them, not him by whom they be. 

Teach me thy love to know; 
That this new light, which now I fee, 
May both the work and workman mow; 
Then by a funne-beam I will climb to thee. 



Sinne, 



OTHAT I could finne once fee ! 
We paint the devil foul, yet he 
Hath fome good in him, all agree. 
Sinne is flat oppofite to th' Almighty, feeing 
It wants the good of vertue, and of being. 

But God more care of us hath had, 

If apparitions make us fad, 

By fight of finne we mould grow mad. 
Yet as in fleep we fee foul death, and live ; 
So devils are our finnes in profpective 



THE CHURCH. 59 



Even-fong. 

>LEST be the God of love, 
Who gave me eyes, and light, and 
power this day, 
Both to be bufie, and to play. 
But much more bleft be God above, 



B' 



Who gave me fight alone, 
Which to himfelf he did denie : 
For when he fees my waies, I dy; 
But I have got his fonne, and he hath none. 

What have I brought thee home 
For this thy love ? have I discharged the debt, 
Which this dayes favour did beget ? 
I ranne ; but all I brought, was fome.* 

Thy diet, care, and coft 
Do end in bubbles, balls of winde 5 
Of winde to thee whom I have croft, 
But balls of wilde-fire to my troubled minde. 

Yet ftill thou goeft on, 
And now with darkneffe clofeft wearie eyes, 
Saying to man, It doth fuffice : 
Henceforth repofe ; your work is done. 

Thus in thy Ebony box 
Thou doft inclofe us, till the day 
Put our amendment in our way, 
And give new wheels to our diforder'd clocks. 



* Foam. 



60 HERBERT^ POEMS. 

I mufe, which mows more love, 
The day or night ; that is the gale, this th' harbour ; 
That is the walk, and this the arbour ; 
Or that the garden, this the grove. 

My God, thou art all love. 
Not one poore minute Tcapes thy breaft, 
But brings a favour from above ; 
And in this love, more than in bed* I reft. 



Church-monuments. 

"\ T 7"HILE that my foul repairs to her devotion, 

V V Here I intombe my flefh, that it betimes 
May take acquaintance of this heap of duft ; 
To which the blaft of deaths inceffant motion, 
Fed with the exhalation of our crimes, 
Drives all at laft. Therefore I gladly truft 

My bodie to this fchool, that it may learn 
To fpell his elements, and finde his birth 
Written in duftie heraldrie and lines -> 
Which diffolution fure doth beft difcern, 
Comparing duft with duft, and earth with earth. 
Thefe laugh at Jeat,* and Marble put for fignes, 

To fever the good fellowfhip of duft, 
And fpoil the meeting. What fliall point out them, 
When they fhall bow, and kneel, and fall down flat 
To kifle thofe heaps, which now they have in truft ? 
Deare flefh, while I do pray, learn here thy ftemme 
And true defcent -> that when thou fhalt grow fat, 

* Jet. 



THE CHURCH. 6l 

And wanton in thy cravings, thou mayft know, 
That flefh is but the glafTe, which holds the duft 
That meafures all our time ; which alfo (hall 
Be crumbled into duft. Mark here below, 
How tame thefe allies are, how free from luft, 
That thou mayft fit thyfelf again ft thy fall. 



Church Mufick. 

SWEETEST of fweets, I thank you : when difplea- 
fure 
Did through my bodie wound my minde, 
You took me thence ; and in your houfe of pleafure 
A daintie lodging me aifign'd. 

Now I in you without a bodie move. 

Rifing and falling with your wings : 
We both together fweetly live and love, 

Yet fay fometimes, God help poore Kings. 

Comfort, 'He die ; for if you pofte from me, 
Sure I fhall do fo, and much more : 

But if I travell in your companie, 

You know the way to heavens doore. 



Church-lock and key. 

I KNOW it is my finne, which locks thine eares, 
And bindes thy hands ! 
Out-crying my requefts, drowning my tears \ 
Or elfe the chilnefle of my faint demands. 



62 Herbert's poems. 

But as cold hands are angrie with the fire, 

And mend it ftill ; 
So I do lay the want of my defire, 
Not on my finnes, or coldneiTe, but thy will. 

Yet heare, O God, onely for his blouds fake, 
Which pleads for me : 
For though finnes plead too, yet like ftones they make 
His blouds fweet current much more loud to be. 



M 



The Church-floore. 



ARK you the floore ? that fquare and fpeckled 
ftone, 
Which looks fo firm and ftrong, 
Is Patience : 



And th' other black ana grave, wherewith each one 
Is checker'd all along, 

Humilitie : 

The gentle rifing, which on either hand 
Leads to the Quire above, 

Is Confidence : 

But the fweet cement, which in one fure band 
Ties the whole frame, is Love 

And Charitie. 

Hither fometimes Sinne fteals, and ftains 
The marbles neat and curious veins : 
But all is cleanfed when the marble weeps. 



THE CHURCH. 63 

Sometimes Death, puffing at the doore, 
Blows all the duft about the floore : 
But while he thinks to fpoil the room, he fweeps. 
Bleft be the Architect, whofe art 
Could build fo ftrong in a weak heart. 

The Windows. 

LORD, how can man preach thy eternall word ? 
He is a brittle crazie glaffe : 
Yet in thy temple thou doft him afford 

This glorious and tranfcendent place, 

To be a window, through thy grace. 
But when thou doft anneal* in glaffe thy ftorie, 

Making thy life to mine within 
The holy Preachers, then the light and glone 

More rev'rend grows, and more doth win ; 

Which elfe mows watrifh, bleak, and thin. 
Doctrine and life, colours and light, in one 

When they combine and mingle, bring 
A ftrong regard and aw : but fpeech alone 

Doth vanifh like a flaring thing, 

And in the eare, not confcience ring. 



Trinitie Sunday. 

ORD, who haft form'd me out of mud, 
f And haft redeem'd me through thy bloud, 
And fanctifi'd me to do good -> 

* Annealing is heating glafs, that the colours may be fixed. 



64 Herbert's poems. 

Purge all my finnes done heretofore ; 

For I confefle my heavie fcore, 

And I will ftrive to finne no more. 
Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me, 

With faith, with hope, with charitie ; 

That I may runne, rife, reft with thee. 



Content. 






PEACE mutt'ring thoughts, and do not grudge to 
keep 
Within the walls of your own breaft. 
Who cannot on his own bed fweetly fleep, 
Can on anothers hardly reft. 

Gad not abroad at ev'ry queft* and call 

Of an untrained hope or paffion. 
To court each place or fortune that doth fall, 

Is wantonnefle in contemplation. 

Mark how the fire in flints doth quiet lie, 

Content and warm t' it felf alone : 
But when it would appeare to others eye, 

Without a knock it never fhone. 

Give me the pliant mind, whofe gentle meafure 

Complies and fuits with all eftates ; 
Which can let loofe to a crown, and yet with pleafure 

Take up within a cloifters gates. 

* Search, or act of feeking. Milton ufes the word in the 
Arcades : 

" Fair filver-bufkin'd Nymphs as great and good j 
I know this l queft' of yours."" 



THE CHURCH. 65 

This foul doth fpan the world, and hang content 

From either pole unto the centre : 
Where in each room of the well-furnifht tent 

He lies warm, and without adventure. 

The brags of life are but a nine dayes wonder : 
And after death the fumes* that fpring 

From private bodies, make as big a thunder 
As thofe which rife from a huge King. 

Onely thy Chronicle is loft : and yet 

Better by worms be all once fpent, 
Than to have hellifh moths ftill gnaw and fret 

Thy name in books, which may not rent. 

When all thy deeds, whofe brunt thou feel'ft alone, 
Are chaw'd by others pens and tongue, 

And as their wit is, their digeftion, 

Thy nourifht fame is weak or ftrong. 

Then ceafe difcourfing foul, till thine own ground - y 

Do not thyfelf or friends importune. 
He that by feeking hath himfelf once found, 

Hath ever found a happie fortune. 



The Quidditie.+ 

MY God, a verfe is not a crown \ 
No point of honour, or gay fuit, 
No hawk, or banquet, or renown, 
Nor a good fword, nor yet a lute : 

* Vapours. 

f Originally a fchool term for the nature 01 efTence of a 
thing j but often ufed as a fynonyme for a quip or quirk 

F 



66 Herbert's poems. 

It cannot vault, or dance, or play ; 
It never was in France or Spain ; 
Nor can it entertain the day 
With a great ftable or demain.* 

It is no office, art, or news ; 
Nor the Exchange, or bufie Hall : 
But it is that which while I ufe, 
I am with the?, and Moft take all. 



Humilitie. 



I SAW the Vertues fitting hand in hand 
In fev'rall ranks upon an azure throne, 
Where all the beafts and fowls, by their command, 
Prefented tokens of fubmiiHon. 
Humilitie, who fat the loweft there 

To execute their call, 
When by the beafts the prefents tendred were, 
Gave them about to all. 

The angrie Lion did prefent his paw, 
Which by confent was giv'n to Manfu etude, f 
The fearful Hare her eares, which by their law 
Humilitie did reach to Fortitude. 
The jealous Turkie brought his corall-chain, 

That went to Temperance. 
On Juftice was beftow'd the Foxes brain, 

KilPd in the way by chance. 



Domain. f Gentienefs. 



THE CHURCH. 67 

At length the Crow, bringing the Peacocks plume, 
(P^or he would not) as they beheld the grace 
Of that brave gift, each one began to fume, 
And challenge it, as proper to his place, 
Till they fell out ; which when the beafts efpied, 

They leapt upon the throne ; 
And if the Fox had liv'd to rule their fide, 

They had depofd each one. 

Humilitie, who held the plume, at this 

Did weep fo faft, that the tears trickling down 

Spoil'd all the train : then faying, Here it is 

For which ye wrangle, made them turn their frown 

Againft the beads : fo joyntly bandying,* 

They drive them foon away; 
And then amerc'df them, double gifts to bring 

At the next Seffion-day. 



Frailtie. 



LORD, in my filence how do I defpife 
What upon truft 
Is fryled honour, riches, or fair eyes ; 
But is fair duft ! 
I furname them guilded clay, 
Deare earth, fine grafie or hay; 
In all, I think my foot doth ever tread 
Upon their head. 

* Contending together. f To punifh by fine. 

F 2 



68 Herbert's poems. 

But when I view abroad both Regiments, 

The worlds, and thine -, 
Thine clad with fimplenefTe, and fad events $ 
The other fine, 
Full of glorie and gay weeds, 
Brave language, braver deeds : 
That which was duft before, doth quickly rife, 
And prick mine eyes. 

O brook not this, left if what even now 

My foot did tread, 
Affront thofe joyes, wherewith thou didft endow. 
And long fince wed 
My poore foul, ev'n fick of love -> 
It may a Babel prove, 
Commodious to conquer, heav'n and thee 
Planted in me. 



Conftancie.* 

WHO is the honeft man ? 
He that doth ftill and ftrongly good purfue, 
To God, his neighbour, and himfelf moft true : 
Whom neither force nor fawning can 
Unpinne, or wrench from giving all their due. 

Whofe honeftie is not 
So loofe or eafie, that a ruffling winde 
Can blow away, or glittering look it blinde : 
Who rides his fure and even trot, 
While the world now rides by, now lags behinde. 

* See the fifteenth Pialm. 



THE CHURCH. 69 

Who, when great trials come, 
Nor feeks, nor fhunnes them ; but doth calmly flay, 
Till he the thing and the example weigh : 
All being brought into a fumme, 
What place or perfon calls for, he doth pay. 

Whom none can work or wooe, 
To ufe in any thing a trick or fleight; 
For above all things he abhorres deceit : 

His words and works and fafhion too 
All of a piece, and all are cleare and ftraight. 



Who never melts or thaws 
At clofe tentations :* when the day is done, 
His goodnefle fets not, but in dark can runne : 

The funne to others writeth laws, 
And is their vertue \ Vertue is his Sunne. 



Who, when he is to treat 
With fick folks, women, thofe whom paflions fway, 
Allows for that, and keeps his conftant way : 
Whom others faults do not defeat; 
But though men fail him, yet his part doth play. 

Whom nothing can procure, 
When the wide world runnes bias, from his will 
To writhe his limbes, and fhare, not mend the ill. 

This is the Mark-man, fafe and fure, 
Who ftill is right, and prayes to be fo ftill. 



Trials or temptations. 



*JO HERBERT S POEMS. 



Affli&ion. 



MY heart did heave, and there came forth, O God ! 
By that I knew that thou waft in the grief, 
To guide and govern it to my relief, 

Making a fcepter of the rod : 
Hadft thou not had thy part, 
Sure the unruly figh had broke my heart. 

But fince thy breath gave me both life and fhape, 
Thou knowft my tallies ; * and when there's aflign'd 
So much breath to a figh, what's then behinde ? 
Or if fome yeares with it efcape, 
The fighf then onely is 
A gale to bring me fooner to my bliffe. 

Thy life on earth was grief, and thou art ftili 
Conftant unto it, making it to be 
A point of honour, now to grieve in me, 
And in thy members fuffer ill. 
They who lament one croffe, 
Thou dying dayly, praife thee to thy loffe. 



* A tally is a ftick, cut to agree in fhape with another flick, 
for the purpofe of keeping accounts. Herbert remembered the 
PfalmirVs prayer, " So teach us to number our days," &c. The 
tallies of a life are the reckonings kept of it. 

f Referring to the popular belief that the ftrength is impaired 
by fighing 5 lb Shakeipere (Hamlet, Act iv. :) 

" And then this mould is like a ipendthrift figh, 
That hurts by ealing." 



B 



THE CHURCH. 71 

The Starre. 

RIGHT fpark, fliot from a brighter place, 
Where beams furround my Saviours face, 
Canft thou be any where 
So well as there ? 



Yet, if thou wilt from thence depart, 
Take a bad lodging in my heart ; 
For thou canft make a debter, 
And make it better. 

Firft with thy fire-work burn to duft 
Folly, and worfe than folly, lull : 
Then with thy light refine, 
And make it fhine. 

So difengag'd from finne and fickneffe, 
Touch it with thy celeftial quickneffe, 
That it may hang and move 
After thy love. 

Then with our trinitie of light, 

Motion, and heat, let's take our flight 
Unto the place where thou 
Before didft bow. 

Get me a ftanding there, and place 

Among the beams, which crown the face 
Of him, who dy'd to part 
Sinne and my heart : 

That fo among the reft I may 

Glitter, and curie, and winde as they: 
That winding is their fafliion 
Of adoration. 



J2 Herbert's poems. 

Sure thou wilt joy, by gaining me 
To flie home like a laden bee 
Unto that hive of beams, 
And garland-ftreams 



Sunday. 



o 



DAY moft calm, moft bright, 
The fruit of this, the next worlds bud, 
Th' indorfement of fupreme delight, 
Writ by a friend, and with his bloud ; 
The couch of time ; cares balm and bay; 
The week were dark, but for thy light : 

Thy torch doth mow the way. 

The other dayes and thou 
Make up one man ; whofe face thou art, 
Knocking at heaven with thy brow : 
The worky-daies are the back-part ; 
The burden of the week lies there, 
Making the whole to ftoup and bow, 

Till thy releafe appeare. 

Man had ftraight forward gone 
To endleffe death ; but thou doft pull 
And turn us round to look on one, 
Whom, if we were not very dull, 
We could not choofe but look on ftill ; 
Since there is no place fo alone 

The which he doth not fill. 



THE CHURCH. 73 

Sundaies the pillars are, 
On which heav'ns palace arched lies : 
The other dayes fill up the fpare 
And hollow room with vanities. 
They are the fruitfull beds and borders 
In Gods rich garden : that is bare 

Which parts their ranks and orders. 

The Sundaies of mans life,* 
Thredded together on times ftring, 
Make bracelets to adorn the wife 
Of the eternall glorious King. 
On Sunday heavens gate ftands ope ; 
Bleflings are plentifull and rife, 

More plentifull than hope. 



This day my Saviour rofe, 
And did inclofe this light for his : 
That, as each beaft his manger knows, 
Man might not of his fodder mifle. 
Chrilt hath took in this piece of ground, 
And made a garden there for thofe 

Who want herbs for their wound. 



* " The Sunday before his death, he rofe fuddenly from his 
bed, or couch, called for one of his inftruments, took it into his 
hand, and laid : 

6 My God, my God, 
My mulic mail find thee, 

And every thing 
Shall have his attribute to iing.' 

and having tuned it, he played and fung, { The Sundays of 
Man's Life,' &c. — Isaak Walton 



74 HERBERT S POEMS. 

The reft of our Creation 
Our great Redeemer did remove 
With the fame make, which at his paflion 
Did th' earth and all things with it move. 
As Samfon bore the doores away, 
Chrifts hands, though naiPd, wrought our falvation, 

And did unhinge that day. 

The brightneffe of that day 
We fullied by our foul offence : 
Wherefore that robe we caft away, 
Having a new at his expenfe, 
Whofe drops of bloud paid the full price, 
That was requir'd to make us gay, 

And fit for Paradile. 

Thou art a day of mirth : 
And where the week-dayes trail on ground, 
Thy flight is higher, as thy birth : 
O let me take thee at the bound, 
Leaping with thee from fev'n to fev'n, 
Till that we both, being toff'd from earth, 

Flie hand in hand to heav'n! 



Avarice. 



MONEY thou bane of blifle, and fource of wo, 
Whence com'ft thou, that thou art fo frefli 
and fine ? 
I know thy parentage is bafe and low : 
Man found thee poore and dirtie in a mine. 



THE CHURCH. 75 

Surely thou didft fo little contribute 

To this great kingdome, which thou now haft got, 
That he was fain, when thou wert deftitute, 

To digge thee out of thy dark cave and grot. 

Then forcing thee, by fire he made thee bright : 
Nay, thou haft got the face of man ; for we 
Have with our ftamp and feal tranfferred our right •> 

Thou art the man, and man but droffe to thee. 

Man calleth thee his wealth, who made thee rich j 
And while he digs out thee, falls in the ditch. 



Ana-Digram.* 



H 



OW well her name an Army doth prefent, 
In whom the Lord of hofts did pitch his tent ! 



To all Angels and Saints. 



OH glorious fpirits, who after all your bands 
See the fmooth face of God, without a frown, 
Or ftric~t commands ; 
Where ev'ry one is king, and hath his crown, 
If not upon his head, yet in his hands : 

Not out of envie or malicioufnefTe 
Do I forbear to crave your fpeciall aid. 

I would iddrefTe 
My vows to thee moft glad./, blefled Maid } 
And Mother of My God, in my diftreffe : 

* A play upon the letters of a name tranfpofed. 



76 Herbert's poems. 

Thou art the holy mine, whence came the gold, 
The great reftorative for all decay- 
In young and old ; 
Thou art the cabinet where the Jewell lay : 
Chiefly to thee would I my foul unfold. 

But now, (alas !) I dare not ; for our King, 
Whom we do all joyntly adore and praife, 

Bids no fuch thing : 
And where his pleafure no injunction layes, 
('Tis your own cafe) ye never move a wing. 

All worfhip is prerogative, and a flower 

Of his rich crown, from whom lyes no appeal 

At the laft houre . 
Therefore we dare not from his garland fteal, 
To make a pofie for inferiour power. 

Although then others court you, if ye know 
What's done on earth, we fhall not fare the worfe, 

Who do not fo ; 
Since we are ever ready to difburfe,* 
If any one our Mafters hand can mow. 



Employment. 



HE that is weary, let him fit. 
My foul would ftirre 
And trade in courtefies and wit, 
Quitting the furre 
To cold complexions needing it. 

* To fpend, or lay out. 



THE CHURCH. ~y 

Man is no ftarre, but a quick coal 

Of mortall fire : 
Who blows it not, nor doth controll 

A faint defire, 
Lets his own afhes choke his foul. 



When th' elements did for place conteft 
With him, whole will 

Ordain'd the higheft to be beft : 
The earth fat ftill, 

And by the others is oppreft. 

Life is a bufinefTe, not good cheer ; 

Ever in warres. 
The funne ftill fhineth there or here, 

Whereas the ftarres 
Watch an advantage to appeare. 

Oh that I were an Orenge-tree, 
That bufie plant ! 

Then mould I ever laden be, 
And never want 

Some fruit for him that drefled me. 



But we are ftill too young or old ; 

The man is gone, 
Before we do our wares unfold : 
So we freeze on, 
Until the grave increafe our cold 



yS Herbert's poems. 

Deniall. 



WHEN my devotions could not pierce 
Thy filent eares ; 
Then was my heart broken, as was my verfe ; 
My breaft was full of fears 
And diforder, 

My bent thoughts, like a brittle bow, 
Did flie afunder : 
Each took his way ; fome would to pleafures go. 
Some to the warres and thunder 
Of alarms. 

As good go any where, they fay, 
As to benumme 
Both knees and heart, in crying night and day, 
Come, come, my God, O come, 
But no hearing. 

O thou that mouldf]: give duft a tongue 
To crie to thee, 
And then not hear it crying ! all day long 
My heart was in my knee, 
But no hearing. 

Therefore my foul lay out of fight, 

Untun'd, unitrung : 
My feeble fpirit unable to look right, 
Like a nipt bloflbme, hung 
Difcontented. 



THE CHURCH. 



79 



O cheer and tune my heartleffe bread, 
Deferre no time ; 
That (o thy favours granting my rcqueft, 
They and my minde may chime, 
And mend my ryme. 



Chriftmas. 

ALL after pleafures as I rid one day 
My horfe and I, both tir'd, bodie and minde, 
With full crie of affections, quite affray ; 
I took up in the next inne I could finde. 

There when I came, whom found I but my deare, 
My deareft Lord, expecting till the grief 
Of pleafures brought me to him, readie there 

To be all paffengers moft fweet relief? 

O Thou, whofe glorious, yet contracted light, 
Wrapt in nights mantle, ftole into a manger \ 
Since my dark foul and brutifh is thy right, 

To Man of all beafts be not thou a ltranger : 

Furnifh and deck my foul, that thou mayft have 
A better lodging, then a rack or grave. 



THE fhepherds fing ; and (hall I filent be ? 
My God, no hymne for thee ? 
My foul's a fhepherd too : a flock it feeds 

Of thoughts, and words, and deeds. 
The pafture is thy word \ the ftreams thy grace 
Enriching all the place. 



8o Herbert's poems. 

Shepherd and flock fhall fing, and all my powers 

Out-ling the day-light houres. 
Then we will chide the funne for letting night 

Take up his place and right : 
We ling one common Lord ; wherefore he mould 

Himfelf the candle hold. 
I will go fearching, till I finde a funne 

Shall ftay, till we have done ; 
A willing miner, that fhall mine as gladly 

As froft-nipt funnes look fadly. 
Then we will fing, and mine all our own day, 

And one another pay : 
His beams fhall cheer my breaft, and both fo twine, 
Till ev'n his beams fing, and my mufic mine. 



UngratefulnefTe. 



LORD, with what bountie and rare clemencie 
Haft thou redeemed us from the grave ! 

If thou hadft let us runne, 
Gladly had man ador'd the funne, 
And thought his god moft brave ; 
Where now we fhall be better gods than he. 

Thou haft but two rare cabinets full of treafure, 
The Trinitie, and Incarnation ; 

Thou haft unlockt them both, 
And made them jewels to betroth 
The work of thy creation 
Unto thyfelf in everlafting pleafure. 

The ftatelier cabinet is the Trinitie, 

Whofe fparkling light accefs denies : 

Therefore thou doft not fhow 
This fully to us, till death blow 



THE CHURCH. 

The duft into our eyes ; 
For by that powder thou v/ilt make us fee. 

But all thy fweets are packt up in the other ; 
Thy mercies thither flock and flow ; 

That as the firft affrights, 
This may allure us with delights ; 
Becaufe this box we know ; 
For we have all of us juft fuch another. 

But man is clofe, referv'd, and dark to thee ; 
When thou demanded but a heart, 

He cavils inftantly. 
In his poore cabinet of bone 

Sinnes have their box apart, 
Defrauding thee, who gaveft two for one. 



8l 



Sighs and Grones. 



DO not ufe me 
After my finnes ! look not on my defert, 
But on thy glorie ! then thou wilt reform, 
And not refufe me : for thou onely art 
The mightie God, but I a fillie worm : 
O do not bruife me ; 

O do not urge me ! 
For what account can thy ill fteward make ? 
I have abuf 'd thy ftock, deftroy'd thy woods, 
Suckt all thy magazens : my head did ake, 
Till it found out how to confume thy goods : 

O do not fcouree me ! 



82 Herbert's poems. 

O do not blind me ! 
I have deferv'd that an Egyptian night 
Should thicken all my powers ; becaufe my luft 
Hath ftill fow'd fig-leaves to exclude thy light : 
But I am frailtie, and already duft : 

O do not grinde me ! 

O do not fill me 
With the turn'd viall of thy bitter wrath ! 
For thou haft other veffels full of blood, 
A part whereof my Saviour empti'd hath, 
Ev'n unto death : fince he di'd for my good, 

O do not kill me ! 

But O reprieve me ! 
For thou haft life and death at thy command ; 
Thou art both Judge and Saviour, feaft and rod, 
Cordiall and Corrofive : * put not thy hand 
Into the bitter box; but O my God, 
My God, relieve me ! 



The World. 

LOVE built a ftately houfe; where Fortune came: 
And fpinning phanfies, me was heard to fay, 
That her fine cobwebs did fupport the frame, 
Whereas they were fupported by the fame : 
But Wifdome quickly fwept them all away. 

Then Pleafure came, who liking not the fafhion, 
Began to make Balcones,f Terraces, 
Till fhe had weakened all by alteration : 
But rev'rend laws, and many a proclamation 
Reformed all at length with menaces. 

# Whatever waftes away. f Balconies. 



THE CHURCH. 8 ] 

Then enter'd finnc, and with that Sycomore, 

Whofe leaves fir ft fheltred man from drought and dew, 

Working and winding flily evermore, 

The inward walls and Sommers cleft and tore : 

But Grace fhor'd* thefe, and cut that as it grew. 

Then Sinne combined with Death in a firm band, 
To rafe the building to the very floore : 
Which they effected, none could them withftand ; 
But Love and Grace took Glorie by the hand, 
And built a braver Palace then before. 



Coloff. iii. 3, 



OUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. 

MY words and thoughts do both exprefTe this 
notion, 
That Life hath with the fun a double motion. 
The firft Is ftraight, and our diurnall f friend ; 
The other Hid, and doth obliquely bend. 
One life is wrapt In flefh, and tends to earth : 
The other winds towards Him, whofe happie birth 
Taught me to live here fo, That ftill one eye 
Should aim and fhoot at that which Is on high ; 
Quitting with daily labour all My pleafure, 
To gain at harveft an eternall Treafure. 

Vanitie. 

THE fleet Aftronomer can bore 
And thread the fpheres with his quick- 
piercing minde : 
He views their ftations, walks from doore to doore, 
Surveys, as if he had defign'd 

* Propped, or fupported. f Daily. 

G 2 



8+ Herbert's poems. 

To make a purchafe there : he fees their dances, 

And knoweth long before, 
Both their full-ey'd afpects, and fecret glances, 

The nimble Diver with his fide 
Cuts through the working waves, that he may fetch 
His dearely-earned pearl, which God did hide 

On purpofe from the ventrous wretch ; 
That he might fave his life, and alfo hers. 

Who with exceflive pride 
Her own deftruction and his danger wears. 

The fubtil Chymick can deveft 
And ftrip the creature naked, till he finde 
The callow* principles within their neft: 

There he imparts to them his minde, 
Admitted to their bed-chamber, before 

They appeare trim and dreft 
To ordinarie fuitours at the doore. 

What hath not man fought out and found, 
But his deare God ? who yet his glorious law 
Embofomes in us, mellowing the ground 

With fhowers and frofts, with love and aw ; 
So that we need not fay, Where's this command ? 

Poore man ! thou fearcheft round 
To finde out death, but mifTeft life at hand. 



Lent. 

WELCOME, deare feaft of Lent : who loves 
not thee, 
He loves not Temperance, or Authoritie, 
But is compof 'd of paflion. 

* Unfeathered. 



THE CHURCH. 85 

The Scriptures bid us faft; the Church (ays, now: 
Give to thy Mother what thou wouldfr. allow 
To ev'ry Corporation. 

The humble foul compoPd of love and fear, 
Begins at home, and layes the burden there, 

When doctrines difagree : 
He fayes, in things which ufe hath juftly got, 
I am a fcandall to the Church, and not 

The Church is fo to me. 

True Chriftians mould be glad of an occafion 
To ufe their temperance, feeking no evafion, 

When good is feafonable ; 
Unleffe Authoritie, which mould increafe 
The obligation in us, make it leffe, 

And Power it felf difable. 

Befides the cleannefTe of fweet abftinence, 
Quick thoughts and motions at a fmall expenfe, 

A face not fearing light : 
Whereas in fulneffe there are fluttifh fumes, 
Sowre exhalations, and difhoneft rheumes, 

Revenging the delight. 

Then thofe fame pendant* profits, which the fpring 
And Eafter intimate, enlarge the thing, 

And goodnefle of the deed. 
Neither ought other mens abufe of Lent 
Spoil the good ufe ; left by that argumen 

We forfeit all our creed. 

* Profits hanging like fruits, to be gathered in due feafon. 



86 Herbert's poems. 

Irs true, we cannot reach Chrifcs forti'th day; 
Yet to go part of that religious way 

Is better than to reft : 
We cannot reach our Saviours puritie ; 
Yet are we bid, " Be holy ev'n as he." 

In both let's do our beft. 

Who goeth in the way which Chrift hath gone, 
Is much more fure to meet with him, than one 

That travelleth by-wayes. 
Perhaps my God, though he be farre before, 
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more, 

May ftrengthen my decayes. 

Yet, Lord, inftrucT: us to improve our faft 
By ftarving finne and taking fuch repaft 

As may our faults controll : 
That ev'ry man mav revell at his doore, 
Not in his parlour ; banquetting the poore. 

And among thofe his foul. 

Vertue.* 

SWEET day, fo cool, fo calm, fo bright, 
The bridal of the earth and fkie : 
The dew mall weep thy fall to night ; 

For thou muft die. 

* Pifcatoi. — " And now, fcholar ! My direction for thy fifli- 
ing is ended with this fhower, for it has done raining. And now 
look about you, and fee how pleafantly that meadow looks j nay, 
and the earth fmells as fweetly too. Ccme, let me tell you what 
holy Herbert fays of fuch days and mowers as thefe j and then 
we will thank God that we enjoy them. 

" Sweet day — fo cool, fo calm, fo bright." 

Walton's Complete Angler, ch. v. 



THE CHURCH. 8/ 

Sweet rofe, whofc hue angrie and brave 
Bids the rafh gazer wipe his eye, 
Thy root is ever in its grave, 

And thou muft die. 

Sweet fpring, full of fweet days and rofes, 
A box where fweets compacted lie, 
My mufick mows ye have your clofes, 
And all muft die. 

Onely a fweet and vertuous foul, 
Like feafoned timber, never gives ; 
But though the whole world turn to coal, 
Then chiefly lives. 



The Pearl. 

Matt. xiii. 

I KNOW the wayes of learning ; both the head 
And pipes that feed the preffe, and make it runne ; 
What reafon hath from nature borrowed, 
Or of itfelf, and like a good hufwife,* fpunne 
In laws and policie ; what the ftarres confpire, 
What willing nature fpeaks, what forcM by fire ; 
Both th' old difcoveries, and the new-found feas, 
The flock and furplus, caufe and hiftorie : 
All thefe ftand open, or I have the keyes : 

Yet I love thee. 

* Coarfe complexions 
And cheeks of lorry grain will ferve to ply 
The fampler, and to teafe th? huf wife's wool. 

Comus, 56. 



35 HERBERT S POEMS. 

1 know the wayes of honour, what maintains 
The quick returns of courtefie and wit : 
In vies of favours whether partie gains. 
When glorie fwells the heart, and moldeth it 
To all expreilions both of hand and eye, 
Which on the world a true-love-knot may tie, 
And bear the bundle, wherefoe're it goes : 
How many drammes of fpirit there muft be 
To fell my life unto my friends or foes : 

Yet I love thee. 



I know the wayes of pleafure, the fweet ftrains, 
The lullings and the relifhes of it ; 
The proportions of hot bloud and brains ; 
What mirth and mufick mean ; what love and wit 
Have done thefe twentie hundred years, and more : 
I know the projects of unbridled ftore : 
My ftuffe is flefli, not braffe ; my fenfes live, 
And grumble oft, that they have more in me 
Than he that curbs them, being but one to five : 

Yet I love thee. 



I know all thefe, and have them in my hand : 
Therefore not fealed, but with open eyes 
I flie to thee, and fully underftand 
Both the main fale, and the commodities ; 
And at what rate and price I have thy love ; 
With all the circumftances that may move ; 
Yet through the labyrinths, not my groveling wit, 
But thy filk twift let down from heav'n to me, 
Did both conduct and teach me, how by it 

To climb to thee, 



THE CHURCH. £9 

Affli&ion. 

BROKEN in pieces all afunder, 
Lord, hunt me not, 
A thing forgot, 
Once a poore creature, now a wonder, 
A wonder tortur'd in the fpace 
Betwixt this world and that of grace. 

My thoughts are all a cafe of knives, 
Wounding my heart 
With fcattered fmart ; 
As wat'ring pots give flowers their lives. 
Nothing their furie can controll, 
While they do wound and prick my foul. 

All my attendants are at ftrife, 

Quitting their place 
Unto my face : 
Nothing performs the tafk of life : 

The elements are let loofe to fight, 
And while I live, trie out their right. 

Oh help, my God! let not their plot 
Kill them and me, 
And alfo thee, 
Who art my life : diffolve the knot, 

As the funne fcatters by his light 
All the rebellions of the night. 

Then mail thofe powers, which work for grief, 
Enter thy pay, 
And day by day 
Labour thy praife, and my relief; 

With care and courage building me, 
Till I reach heav'n, and much more thee. 



QO 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



Man. 

MY God, I heard this day, 
That none doth build a ftately habitation 
But he that means to dwell therein. 
What houfe more ftately hath there been , 
Or can be, then is Man ? to whofe creation 
All things are in decay. 

For Man is ev'ry thing, 

And more : He is a tree, yet bears no fruit. 

A beaft, yet is, or mould be more : 

Reafon and fpeech we onely bring. 

Parrats may thank us, if they are not mute, 

They go upon the fcore. 

Man is all fymmetrie, 
Full of proportions, one limbe to another, 
And all to all the world befides : 
Each part may call the fartheft, brother : 
For head with foot hath private amitie, 

And both with moons and tides. 

Nothing hath got fo farre, 
But Man hath caught and kept it, as his prey. 
His eyes difmount the higheft ftarre : 
He is in little all the fphere. 
Herbs gladly cure our flefh, becaufe that they 
Finde their acquaintance there. 

For us the windes do blow ; 
The earth doth reft, heav'n move, and fountains flow. 
Nothing we fee, but means our good, 
As our delight, or as our treafure : 
The whole is, either our cupboard of food, 
Or cabinet of pleafure. 



THE CHURCH. 91 

The ftarres have us to bed ; 

Night draws the curtain, which the funne withdraws : 

Mufick and light attend our head, 

All things unto our flem are kinde 
In their defcent and being; : to our minde 
In their afcent and caufe. 

.Each thing is full of dutie : 
Waters united are our navigation ; 
Diftinguifhed, our habitation ; 
Below, our drink ; above, our meat : 
Both are our cleanlineffe.* Hath one fuch beautie ? 
Then how are all things neat ! 

More fervants wait on Man, 
Than he'l take notice of: in ev'ry path 

He treads down that which doth befriend him, 
When ficknefTe makes him pale and wan. 
Oh mightie love ! Man is one world, and hath 
Another to attend him. 



* Mr. Coleridge fays — " I underftand this but imperfeclly — 
diftinguifhed — they form an ifland ?" may we not rather feek an 
interpretation in the firft chapter of Generis (9. 10) 5 the waters 
diftinguifhed, are the waters feparated from the diy land, which 
then appears and becomes the habitation of man 5 the waters 
united, are the gathering together of the waters which God 
called leas j below, they are our fountains and dreams to drink ; 
above, they are our meat, becaufe the hufbandman waiteth for 
the early and the latter rain. Both are our cleanlinefs. In the 
verses on Lent, Herbert had fpoken of ' the cleannefs of fweet 
abftinence, 1 the gentle thoughts and emotions which it gives, and 
the * face not fearing light.' Perhaps in this poem he employs 
cleanlinefs in the fame wide fenfe • as exprefTing the beauty, frefh- 
nefs, purity, and delight of which water, in its many fhapes and 
bleffings, is made the minifter to mankind. 11 



92 Herbert's poems. 

Since then, my God, thou haft 
So brave a Palace built ; O dwell in it, 

That it may dwell with thee at laft! 

Till then, afford us fo much wit ; 
That, as the world ferves us, we may ferve thee, 
And both thy fervants be. 



Antiphon. 



Chor. T)RAtSED be the God of love, 
JL Men. Here below, 

Ang. And here above : 

Chor. Who hath dealt his mercies fo, 
Ang. To his friend, 
Men. And to his foe ; 

Chor. That both grace and glorie tend 
Ang. Us of old, 
Men. And us in th' end. 

Chor. The great Shepherd of the fold 
Ang. Us did make, 
Men. For us was fold. 

Chor. He our foes in pieces brake : 
Ang. Him we touch ; 
Men. And him we take. 

Chor. Wherefore fince that he is fuch, 
Ang. We adore, 
Men. And we do crouch. 

Chor. Lord, thy praifes fhould bee more. 
Men. We have none, 
Ang. And we no ftore. 

Chor.. Praifed be the God alone 

Who hath made of two folds one. 



THE CHURCH. 



Unkindneffe. 

LORD, make me coy and tender to offend : 
In friendfhip, firft I think, if that agree, 
Which I intend, 
Unto my friends intent and end. 
I would not ufe a friend, as I ufe Thee. 

If any touch my friend, or his good name, 
It is my honour and my love to free 

His blafted fame 
From the leaft fpot or thought of blame 
I could not ufe a friend, as I ufe Thee. 

My friend may fpit upon my curious floore : 
Would he have gold ? I lend it inftantly ; 

But let the poore, 
And thou within them ftarve at doore. 
I cannot ufe a friend, as I ufe Thee. 

When that my friend pretendeth to a place, 
I quit my intereft, and leave it free : 

But when thy grace 
Sues for my heart, I thee difplace ; 
Nor would I ufe a friend, as I ufe Thee. 

Yet can a friend what thou haft done fulfill ? 
O write in brafs, My God upon a tree 

His bloud did fpill, 
Onely to purchafe my good-will : 
Yet ufe I not my foes, as I ufe thee. 



9^ 



94 HERBERT S POEMS. 



Life. 

I MADE a pofie,* while the day ran by : 
Here will I fmell my remnant out, and tie 
My life within this band. 
But time did becken to the flowers, and they 
By noon mod cunningly did fteal away, 

And wither' d in my hand. 

My hand was next to them, and then my heart ; 
I took, without more thinking, in good part 

Times gentle admonition ; 
Who did fo fweetly deaths fad tafte convey, 
Making my minde to fmell my fatall day, 

Yet fugring the fafpicion. 

Farewell, dear flowers, fweetly your time ye fpent, 
Fit, while ye liv'd, for fmell or ornament, 

And after death for cures. 
I follow ftraight without complaints or grief, 
Since if my fcent be good, I care not if 

It be as fhort as yours. 



Submiilion. 

BUT that thou art my wifdome, Lord, 
And both mine eyes are thine, 
My minde would be extreamly ftirr'd 
For mifling my defigne. 

* Pofie is a contraction of poefy ; here it means a wreath, or 
cluftei of flowers. 



THE CHURCH. 95 

Were it not better ro beftow 

Some place and power on me ? 

Then fhould thy praifes with me grow, 
And fhare in my degree. 

But when I thus difpute and grieve, 

I do refume my fight ; 
And pilfring what I once did give, 

Difleize* thee of thy right. 

How know I, if thou fhouldft me raife, 
That I fhould then raife thee r 

Perhaps great places and thy praife 
Do not fo well agree. 



Wherefore unto my gift I ftand ; 

I will no more advife : 
Onely do thou lend me a hand, 

Since thou haft both mine eyes. 



Juftice. 



I CANNOT (kill of thefe thy ways : 
Lord, thou didft make me, yet thou woundeft me : 
Lord, thou doft wound me, yet thou doft relieve me : 
Lord, thou relieveft, yet I die by thee : 
Lord, thou doft kill me, yet thou doft reprieve me. 

* Depiive. 



96 Herbert's poems. 

But when I mark my life and praife, 
Thy juftice me moft fitly payes : 
For, I do praife thee, yet I praife thee not : 
My prayers mean thee, yet my prayers ftray : 
I would do well, yet finne the hand hath got : 
iVly foul doth love thee, yet it loves delay. 
I cannot fkill of thefe my ways. 



w 



Charms and Knots. 



HO reade a chapter when they rife, 
Shall ne'ere be troubled with ill eves. 




A poor mans rod, when thou doft ride, 
Is both a weapon and a guide. 

Who fhuts his hand, hath loft his gold : 
Who opens it, hath it twice told. 

Who goes to bed, and doth not pray, 
Maketh two nights to ev'ry day. 

Who by afperfions throw a ftone 
At th' head of others, hit their own. 

Who looks on ground with humble eyes, 
Findes himfelf there, and feeks to rife. 

When th' hair is fweet through pride or luft, 
The powder doth forget the duft. 



THE CHURCH. 97 

Take one from ten, and what remains ?* 
Ten ftill, if fermons go for gains. 

In fhallow waters heav'n doth {how * 
But who drinks on, to hell may go. 



Affli&ion. 



t 



MY God, I read this day, 
TI 



'hat planted Paradife was not fo firm, 
s was and is thy floting Ark; whofe ftay 
nd anchor thou art onely, to confirm 

And ftrengthen it in ev'ry age, 

When waves do rife, and tempefts rage. 



At firft we lived in pleafure; 
Thine own delights thou didft to us impart : 
When we grew wanton, thou didft ufe difpleafure 
To make us thine : yet that we might not part, 
As we at fiift did board with thee, 
Now thou would ft tafte our miferie. 

There is but joy and grief; 
If either will convert us, we aie thine : 
Some Angels uf'd the firft; if our relief 
Take up the fecond, then thy double line 

And fev'rall baits in either kinde 

Furnifh thy table to thy minde. 

* The meaning is that the tythes of the Prieft are repaid by 
his fervices. The thought is found in Proverbs (iii. 9, 10) : 
" Honour the Lord with thy fubftance, and with the firft fruits of 
all thine increaie ; ib mall thy barns be filled with plenty, and 
thy orelTes mall burft cut with new wine '" 

H 






98 Herbert's poems. 

Affliction then is ours ; 
We are the trees, whom making faftens more, 
While bluftring windes deftroy the wanton bowres, 
And ruffle all their curious knots and ftore. 
My God, fo temper joy and wo, 
That thy bright beams may tame thy bow. 



Mortification.* 

HOW foon doth man decay ! 
When clothes are taken from a cheft of fweets, 
To fwaddle infants, whofe young breath 

Scarce knows the way ; 
Thofe clouts are little winding meets, 
Which do conligne and fend them unto death. 

When boyes go firft to bed, 
They ftep into their voluntarie graves ; 
Sleep bindes them faft ; onely their breath 

Makes them not dead. 
Succeffive nights, like rolling waves, 
Convey them quickly, who are bound for death. 

* In this time of his decay he would often fpeak to this pur- 
pofe : " I now look back upon the pleafures of my life paft, and 
fee the content I have taken in beauty, in wit, and muiic, and 
pleafant converfation, are now all pafled by me like a dream, or 
as a fhadow that returns not, and are now all become dead to me, 
or I to them 5 and I fee that as my father and generation hath 
done before me, fo I alfo mail now fuddenly (with Job) make 
my bed alfo in the dark ; and I praife God I am prepared for it, 
and I praiie him that I am not to learn patience now I ftand in 
fuch need of it, and that I have pra£tifed Mortification, and 
endeavoured to die daily, that I might not die eternally. ,,, — 
j sa*k Walton. 



THE CHURCH. 99 

When youth is frank and free, 
And calls for mufick, while his veins do fwell, 
All day exchanging mirth and breath 
In companie ; 
That mufick fummons to the knell, 
Which mall befriend him at the houfe of death. 

When man grows ftaid and wife, 
Getting a houfe and home, where he may move 
Within the circle of his breath, 

Schooling his eyes ; 
That dumb inclofure maketh love 
Unto the coffin, that attends his death. 

When age grows low and weak, 
ivlarking his grave, and thawing ev'ry year, 
Till all do melt, and drown his breath 

When he would fpeak ; 
A chair or litter mows the biere, 
Which ftiali convey him to the houfe of death. 

Man, ere he is aware, 
Hath put together a folemnitie, 

And dreft his hearfe, while he has breath 

As yet to fpare. 

Yet, Lord, inftruct us fo to die 

That all thefe dyings may be life in death. 

Decay. 

SWEET were the days, when thou didft lodge with 
Lot, 
Struggle with Jacob, fit with Gideon, 
Advife with Abraham, when thy power could not 
Encounter Mofes ftrong complaints and moan : 
Thy words were then, Let me alone. 
F 2 



100 HERBERT S POEMS. 

One might have fought and found thee prefently 
At fome fair oak, or bufh, or cave, or well : 
Is my God this way ? No, they would reply - 9 
He is to Sinai gone, as we heard tell : 

Lift, ye may heare great Aarons bell. 

But now thou doft thyfelf immure and clofe 
In fome one corner of a feeble heart : 
Where yet both Sinne and Satan, thy old foes, 
Do pinch and ftraiten thee, and uie much ait 
To gain thy thirds and little part. 

I fee the world grows old, when as the heat 
Of thy great love once fpread, as in an urn 
Doth clofet up itfelf, and ftill retreat, 
Cold finne ftill forcing it, till it return 

And calling Juftice, all things burn. 



Miferie. 

LORD, let the Angels praife thy name. 
Man is a fooliih thing, a fooliih thing, 
tolly and Sinne play all his game. 
His houfe ftill burns ; and yet he ftill doth fing, 
Man is but grafle, 
He knows it, fill the glafTe. 

How canft thou brook his fooliihnefTe ? 
Why, hc'l not lofe a cup of drink for thee : 

Bid him but temper his excefie \ 
Not he : he knows, where he can better be 
As he will fwear, 
Then to ferve thee in fear. 



THE CHURCH. 101 

What Arrange pollutions doth he wed, 
And make his own ? as if none knew, but he. 

No man fhall beat into his head 
That thou within his curtains drawn canft fee : * 
They are of cloth, 
Where never yet came moth. 

The bcft of men, turn but thy hand 
For one poore minute, ftumble at a pinne : 

They would not have their actions fcann'd, 
Nor any forrow tell them that they finne, 
Though it be fmall, 
And meafure not their fall. 



They quarrell f thee, and would give over 
The bargain made to ferve thee : but thy love 

Holds them unto it, and doth cover 
Their follies with the wing of thy milde Dove, 
Not fufPring thofe 
Who would, to be thy foes. 

My God, man cannot praife thy name : 
Thou art all brightnelTe, perfect puritie : 

The funne holds down his head for fhame, 

I Dead with eclipfes, when we fpeak of thee. 
How mall infection 
Prefume on thy perfection ? 
i 



" Thou art about my path, and about my bed." — Pfa. 
ix. 2. 

f " Quarrel " is found as a verb active in the elder poets : 
Ben Jonion (" Every Man in his Humour' 1 ) has it : 



" And now that I had 'quarrelled * 
My brother purpofely/ 



102 HERBERT S POEMS. 

As dirtie hands foul all they touch, 
And thofe things moft, which are moft pure and fine : 

So our clay hearts, ev'n when we crouch 
To fing thy praifes, make them lefle divine. 
Yet either this, 
Or none thy portion is. 

Man cannot ferve thee ; let him go 
And ferve the fwine : there, there is his delight : 

He doth not like this vertue, no ; 
Give him his dirt to wallow in all night ; 
Thefe Preachers make 
His head to moot and ake. 



Oh foolifh man ! where are thine eyes ? 
How haft thou loft them in a crowd of cares ? 

Thou pull'ft the rug, and wilt not rife, 
No not to purchafe the whole pack of ftarres : 
There let them mine, 
Thou muft go fleep, or dine. 

The bird that fees a daintie bowre 
Made in the tree, where fhe was wont to fit, 
Wonders and fings, but not his power 
Who made the arbor : this exceeds her wit. 
But man doth know 
The fpring, whence all things flow: 

And yet as though he knew it not, 
His knowledge winks, and lets his humours reigne : 

They make his life a conftant blot, 
And all the bloud of God to run in vain. 

Ay, wretch ! what verfe 
Can thy ftrange wayes rehearfe ? 



THE CHURCH. 

Indeed at firft Man was a treafure, 
A box of jewels, ftiop of rarities, 

A ring, whofe pofie* was, My pleafure : 
He was a garden in a Paradife : 

Glorie and grace 
Did crown his heart and face. 

But finne hath fooPd him. Now he is 
A lump of flefh, without a foot or wing 
To raife him to the glimpfe of blilTe : 
A fick tofFd veffel, dafhing on each thing; 
Nay, his own fhelf : 
My God, I mean myfelf. 



103 



Jordan. 



WHEN firft my lines of heav'nly joyes made 
mention, 
Such was their lustre, they did fo excell, 
That I fought out quaint words, and trim invention ; 
My thoughts began to burnifh, fprout, and fwell, 
Curling with metaphors a plain intention, 
Decking the fenfe, as if it were to fell. 

Thoufands of notions in my brain did runne, 

OfPring their fervice, if I were not fped: 

I often blotted what I had begunne ; 

This was not quick enough, and that was dead. 

Nothing could feem too rich to clothe the funne, 

Much leffe thofe joyes which trample on his head. 

* The motto round a rino:. 



104 HERBERTS POEMS. 

As flames do work and winde, when they afcend; 
So did I weave myfelf into the fenfe. 
But while I buftled, I might hear a friend 
Whifper, How wide is all this long pretence! 
There is in love a fweetneffe ready penn'd: 
Copie out onely that, and iave expenfe. 



Prayer, 



OF what an eafie quick accefTe, 
My blefled Lord, art thou ! how fuddenly 
May our requefts thine eare invade! 
To ftiew that ftate diflikes not eafmefTe, 
If I but lift mine eyes, my fiat is made : 
Thou canft no more not heare, than thou canft die 

Of what fupreme almightie power 
Is thy great arm which fpans the eaft and weft, 

And tacks the centre to the fphere! 
By it do all things live their meafur'd houre: 
We cannot afk the thing, which is not there 
Blaming the fhallownefle of our requeft. 

Of what unmeafurable love 
Art thou poffeft, who, when thou couldft not die, 

Wert fain to take our flelh and curfe, 
And for our fakes in perfon finne reprove; 
That by deftroying that which ty'd thy purfe, 
Thou mightft make way for liberalitie ! 

Since then thefe three wait on thy throne, 
Eafe, Power, and Love; I value Prayer fo, 
That were I to leave all but one, 



THE CHURCH. IO5 

Wealth, fame, endowments, vertues, all fhould go \ 
I and deare Prayer would together dwell, 
And quickly gain, for each inch loft, an ell. 



Obed 



lence. 



M 



"Y God, if writings may 
Convey a Lordihip any way 
Whither the buyer and the feller pieafe ; 

Let it not thee difpleafe, 
If this poore paper do as much as they. 



On it my heart doth bleed 
As many lines, as there doth need 
To pafTe itfelf and all it hath to thee, 

To which I do agree, 
And here prefent it as my fpeciall deed.* 

If that hereafter Pleafure 
Cavill, and claim her part and meafure, 
As if this parted with a refervation, 

Or fome fuch words in fafhon ; 
I here exclude the wrangler from thy treafure. 

O let thy facred will 
All thy delight in me fulfill ! 
Let me not think an action mine own way, 

But as thy love fhall fway, 
Refigning up the rudder to thy (kill. 

* Herbert's Country Parfon was to be all to his parim, arid 
not only a Pallor, but a Lawyer alio, (ch. xxiii.) ; here he adopts 
the legal exprelTion for a conveyance, " I deliver this as my act 
and deed." 



io6 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



Lord, what is man to thee, 
That thou fhouldft minde a rotten tree ? 
Yet fince thou canft not choofe but fee my anions 

So great are thy perfections, 
Thou mayft as well my actions guide, as fee. 

Befides, thy death and bloud 
Show'd a ftrange love to all our good : 
Thy forrows were in earneft ; no faint proffer, 

Or fuperficial offer 
Of what we might not take, or be withftood. 

Wherefore I all forego : 
To one word onely I say, No : 
Where in the deed there was an intimation 

Of a gift or donation, 
Lord, let it now by way of purchafe go. 

He that will paffe his land, 
As I have mine, may fet his hand 
And heart unto this deed, when he hath read > 

And make the purchafe fpread 
To Loth our goods, if he to it will ftand. 

How happie were my part, 
If fome kinde man would thruft his heart 
Into thefe lines ; till in heav'ns court of rolls 

They were by winged fouls 
Entred for both, farre above their defert ! 



Confcience, 

^EACE pratler, do not lowre : 

Not a fair look, but thou doft call it foul : 
Not a fweet dim, but thou doft call it fowre : 
Mufick to thee doth howl. 



F 



THE CHURCH. IO7 

By liftning to thy chatting fears 

I have both loft mine eyes and eares. 

Pratler, no more, I fay, 
My thoughts muft work, but like a noifelefTe fphere. 
Harmonious peace muft rock them all the day: 
No room 4 for pratlers there. 
If thou perfifteft, I will tell thee, 
That I have phyfick to expell thee. 

And the receit mail be 
My Saviours bloud : whenever at his board 
1 do but tafte it, ftraight it cleanfeth me, 
And leaves thee not a word ; 
No, not a tooth or nail to fcratch, 
And at my actions carp, or catch. 

Yet if thou talkeft ftill, 
Befides my phyfick, know there's fome for thee : 
Some wood and nails to make a ftaffe, or bill, 
For thofe that trouble me : 
The bloudie crofle of my deare Lord 
Is both my phyfick and my fword. 



Sion. 



LORD, with what glorie waft thou ferv'd of old, 
When Solomons temple ftood and flourifhed ! 
Where moft things were of pureft gold ; 
The wood was all embellifhed 
With flowers and carvings, myfticall and rare : 
All fhow'd the builders, crav'd the feers care. 



io8 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



Yet all this glorie, all this pomp and {late, 

Did not affect thee much, was not thy aim 
Something there was that fow'd debate 
Wherefore thou quitt'ft thy ancient claim : 

And now thy Architecture meets with finne ; 

For all thy frame and fabrick is within. 

There thou art ftruggling with a peevifli heart, 
Which fometimes croffeth thee, thou fometimes it : 

The fight is hard on either part. 

Great God doth fight, he doth fubmit. 
All Solomons fea* of brafle and world of ftone 
Is not fo deare to thee, as one good grone. 

And truly brafTe and ftones are heavie things, 
Tombes for the dead, not temples fit for thee : 
But grones are quick, and full of wings, 
And all their motions upward be ; 
And ever as they mount, like larks they fing : 
The note is fad, yet mufick for a king. 



Home. 



GOME, Lord, my head doth burn, my heart is fick, 
While thou doft ever, ever ftay : 
1 ny long deferrings wound me to the quick, 
My fpirit gafpeth night and day. 

O mew thyfelf to me, 
Or take me up to thee ! 



* And he made a molten fea, ten cubits from the one brim to 
the other j it was round all about.'" — i Kings vii. 23. 



THE CHURCH. 100, 

How canft thou flay, confidcring the pace 

The bloud did make, which thou didft wafte ? 
When 1 behold it trickling down thy face, 
1 never faw thing make fuch hafte. 
O (how thyfelf to me, 
Or take me up to thee ! 



When man was loft, thy pitie lookt about,* 
To fee what help in th' earth or fkie : 

But there was none ; at leaft no help without : 
The help did in thy bofom lie. 
O (how thyfelf, &c. 

There lay thy fonne : and muft he leave that neft, 
That hive of fweetnefTe, to remove 

Thraldome from thofe, who would not at a feaft 
Leave one poore apple for thy love ? 
O ihow thyself, &c. 

He did, he came : O my Redeemer, deare, 
After all this canft thou be ftrange ? 

So many yeares baptiz'd, and not appeare ; 
As if thy love could fail or change ? 
O mow thyfelf, &c. 



Yet if thou ftayeft ftill, why muft I ftay? 

My God, what is this world to me ? 
This world of wo ? hence, all ye clouds, away, 
Away \ I muft get up and fee. 

O ihow thyfelf, &c. 



* " And 1 looked, and there was none to help ; and I wondered 
that there was none to uphold j therefore mine own arm brought 
falvation unto me. "—Isaiah lxiii. 5. 



no 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



What is this weary world ; this meat and drink, 
That chains us by the teeth fo fafl: ? 

What is this woman-kinde, which I can wink 
Into a blacknefle and diftafte ? 

O fhow thyfelf, &c. 



With one fmall figh thou gav'ft me th' other day 
I blafted all the joyes about me : 

And fcouling on them as they pin'd away 

Now come again, faid I, and flout me. 
O mow thyfelf, &c. 

Nothing but drought and dearth, but bufh and brake, 
Which way fo-e're I look, I fee. 

Some may dream merrily, but when they wake, 

They drefle themfelves, and come to thee. 
O fhow thyfelf, &c. 

We talk of harvefts \ there are no fuch things, 
But when we leave our corn and hay: 
There is no fruitfull yeare, but that which brings 
The laft and lov'd, though dreadfull day. 
O mow thyfelf, &c. 



Oh loofe this frame, this knot of man untie ! 

That my free foul may ufe her wing, 
Which now is pinion'd with mortalitie, 

As an intangled, hamper'd thing. 
O fhow thyfelf, &c. 

What have I left, that I mould ftay and grone ? 

The moft of me to heav'n is fled : 
My thoughts and joyes are all packt up and gone, 

And for their old acquaintance plead. 
O fhow thyfelf, &c. 



THE CHURCH. I I I 

Come, deareft Lord, pafle not this holy feafon, 
My flefh and bones and joynts do pray: 
And ev'n my verfe, when by the ryme and reafon 
The word is, Stay, fays ever, Come. 
O fhow thy felf to me, 
Or take me up to thee ! 



I 



The Britifh Church. 

JOY, deare Mother, when I view, 
Thy perfect lineaments, and hue 

Both fweet and bright : 



Beautie in thee takes up her place, 
And dates her letters from thy face, 

When fhe doth write. 

A fine afpecl: in fit aray, 
Neither too mean, nor yet too gay, 
Shows who is beft : 

Outlandifh looks may not compare; 
For all they either painted are, 
Or elfe undreft. 

She* on the hills, which wantonly 
Allureth all in hope to be 

By her preferr'd, 

Hath kifPd fo long her painted fhrines, 
That ev'n her face by killing mines, 
For her reward. 

* The Church of Rome. 



*I2 Herbert's poems. 

She* in the valley is fo {hie 
Of drefling, that her hair doth lie 
About her eares : 

While fhe avoids her neighbours pride, 
She wholly goes on th' other fide, 

And nothing wears. 

But, deareft Mother, (what thofe mifTe) 
The mean thy praife and glorie is, 
And long: mav be. 



-5 ma y 



BlefTed be God, whofe love it was 
To double-moat f thee with his grace, 
And none but thee. 



The Quip. I 



THE merrie world did on a day 
With his train-bands and mates agree 
To meet together, where I lay, 
And all in (port to geere§ at me. 

Firft, Beautie crept into a rofe ; 
Which when I pluckt not, Sir, faid fhe, 
Tell me, I pray, Whofe hands are thofe ? 
But thou malt anfwer, Lord, for me. 

Then Money came, and chinking ftill. 
What tune is this, poore man ? laid he : 
I heard in Muiick you had fkill : 
But thou {halt anfwer, Lord, for me. 

* The Puritan. 

f Like a caitle with two moats, or ftreams of water round it. 

j A plcaiantry. 

§ To icek or icarch after, and alfo to mock. 



THE CHURCH. 113 

Then came brave Glorie puffing by 
In filks that whittled, who but he ! 
He fcarce allow'd me half an eie : 
But thou fhalt anfwer, Lord, for me. 

Then came quick Wit and Converfation, 
And he would needs a comfort be, 
And, to be fhort, make an oration. 
But thou fhalt anfwer, Lord, for me. 

Yet when the houre of thy defigne 
To anfwer thefe fine things mall come ; 
Speak not at large, fay, I am thine, 
And then they have their anfwer home. 



Vanitie. 

POORE filly foul, whofe hope and head lies low; 
Whofe flat delights on earth do creep and grow : 
To whom the ftarres mine not fo faire, as eyes y 
Nor folid work, as falfe embroyderies ; 
Hark and beware, left what you now do meafure, 
And write for fweet, prove a moft fowre difpleafure. 

O heare betimes, left thy relenting 

May come too late ! 
To purchafe heaven for repenting 

Is no hard rate. 
If fouls be made of earthly mould, 

Let them love gold ; 

If born on high, 
Let them unto their kindred flie : 
For they can never be at reft, 
Till they regain their ancient neft. 
I 



t 14 Herbert's poems. 

Then filly foul take heed ; for earthly joy 
Is but a bubble, and makes thee a boy. 



The Dawning. 

AWAKE fad heart, whom forrow ever drowns : 
Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth, 
Unfold thy forehead gather* d into frowns ; 
Thy Saviour comes, and with him mirth : 
Awake, awake ; 
And with a thankfull heart his comforts take. 
But thou doft ftill lament, and pine, and crie ; 
And feel his death, but not his victorie. 

Arife fad heart ; if thou doft not withftand, 

Chrifts refurrecliion thine may be : 
Do not by hanging down break from the hand, 
Which as it rifeth, raifeth thee : 

Arife, arife ; 
And with his buriall-linen drie thine eyes. 

Chrift left his grave-clothes, that we might, when 

grief 
Draws tears, or bloud, not want an handkerchief. 



Jefu. 



JESU is in my heart, his facred name 
Is deeply carved there : but th' other week 
A great affliction broke the little frame, 
Ev'n all to pieces ; which I went to feek : 



THE CHURCH. I 15 

And firft I found the corner where was y 
After, where ES, and next where U was graved. 
When I had got thefe parcels, inftantly 
I fat me down to fpell them, and perceived 
That to my broken heart he was / eafe you^ 
And to my whole is JESU. 



c 



Buiineffe. 



ANST be idle ? canft thou play, 
Foolifh foul who finn'd to day? 



Rivers run, and fprings each one 
Know their home, and get them gone : 
Haft thou tears, or haft thou none ? 

If, poore foul, thou haft no tears ; 
Would thou hadft no faults or fears ! 
Who hath thefe, thofe ill forbears. 

Windes ftill work : it is their plot, 

Be the feason cold, or hot : 

Haft thou fighs, or haft thou not ? 

If thou haft no fighs or grones, 
Would thou hadft no flefh and bones ! 
LefTer pains fcape greater ones. 

But if yet thou idle be, 

Foolifh foul, Who di'd for thee ? 

Who did leave his Fathers throne, 
To affume thy flefh and bone ? 
Had he life, or had he none ? 

I 2 



n6 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



If he had not liv'd for thee, 
Thou hadft di'd moft wretchedly \ 
And two deaths had been thy fee. 

He fo farre thy good did plot, 
That his own felf he forgot. 
Did he die, or did he not ? 

If he had not di'd for thee, 
Thou hadft liv'd in miferie. 
Two lives worfe than ten deaths be. 

And hath any fpace of breath 
'Twixt his finnes and Saviours death ? 

He that lofeth gold, though droffe, 
Tells to all he meets, his crofTe : 
He that finnes, hath he no lofle ? 

He that findes a filver vein. 
Thinks on it, and thinks again : 
Brings thy Saviours death no gain ? 

Who in heart not ever kneels, 
Neither finne nor Saviour feels. 



Dialogue. 

SWEETEST Saviour, if my foul 
Were but worth the having, 
Quickly mould I then controll 
Any thought of waving.* 



* Wavering. 



THE CHURCH. II7 



But when all my care and pains 
Cannot give the name of gains 
To thy wretch fo full of ftains; 
What delight or hope remains ? 

What (childe), is the ballance thine, 

Thine the poife and meafure ? 
If I fay, Thou malt be mine, 

Finger not my treafure. 
What the gains in having thee 
Do amount to, onely he, 
Who for man was fold, can fee, 
That tranfferr'd th' accounts to me. 



But as I can fee no merit, 

Leading to this favour : 
So the way to fit me for it, 
Is beyond my favour. 
As the reafon then is thine ; 
So the way is none of mine : 
I difclaim the whole defigne : 
Sinne difclaims and I refigne 



That is all, if that I could 

Get without repining ; 
And my clay, my creature, would 

Follow my refigning : 
That as I did freely part 
With my glorie and defert, 
Left all joyes to feel all fmart- 



Ah ! no more : thou break' ft my heart* 



n8 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



Dulneffe. 



WHY do I languifh thus, drooping and dii 
As if I were all earth ? 
O give me quickneffe, that I may with mirth 
Praife thee brim-full ! 

The wanton lover in a curious ftrain 

Can praife his faireft fair ; 
And with quaint metaphors her curled hair 
Curl o'er again : 

Thou art my lovelineffe, my life, my light, 

Beautie alone to me : 
Thy bloudy death, and undeferv'd, makes thee 
Pure red and white. 



When all perfections as but one appeare, 
That thofe thy form doth fhew, 
The very duft, where thou doft tread and go 
Makes beauties here -> 

Where are my lines then ? my approaches ? views ? 

Where are my window fongs r 
Lovers are ftill pretending, and ev'n wrongs 
Sharpen their Mufe. 

But I am loft in flefh, whofe fugred lyes 
Still mock me, and grow bold : 
Sure thou didft put a minde there, if I could 
Finde where it lies. 






THE CHURCH. IIQ 

Lord, clcare thy gift, that with a conftant wit 

I may but look towards thee : 
Look onely ; for to love thee, who can be, 
What angel fit ? 



Love-joy. 

AS on a window late I caft mine eye, 
I faw a vine drop grapes with J and C 
Anneal'd* on every bunch. One ftanding by 
Afk'd what it meant. I (who am never loth 
To fpend my judgment) {aid, It feem'd to me 
To be the body and the letters both 
Of Joy and Charitie ; Sir, you have not miff'd, 
The man reply 'd ; it figures JESUS CHRIST. 



Providence. 

O SACRED Providence, who from end to end 
Strongly and fweetly moveft ! mall I write, 
And not of thee, through whom my fingers bend 
To hold my quill ; fhall they not do thee right ? 

Of all the creatures both in fea and land, 
Onely to man thou haft made known thy wayes, 
And put the penne alone into his hand, 
And made him Secretarie of thy praife. 

* Burnt in. 



120 HERBERTS POEMS. 



Beafts fain would fing ; .birds ditty to their notes ; 
Trees would be tuning on their native lute 
To thy renown : but all their hands and throats 
Are brought to Man, while they are lame and mute. 






Man is the worlds high Prieft : he doth prefent 

The facrifiee for all \ while they below 

Unto the fervice mutter an afient, 

Such as fprings ufe that fall, and windes that blow. 

He that to praife and laud thee doth refrain, 
Doth not refrain unto himfelf alone, 
But robs a thoufand who would praife thee fain ; 
And doth commit a world of finne in one. 

The beafts fay, Eat me, but, if beafts muft teach, 
The tongue is yours to eat, but mine to praife. 
The trees fay, Pull me : but the hand you ftretch 
Is mine to write, as it is ^ours to raife. 

Wherefore, moft facred Spirit, I here prefent 
For me and all my fellows praife to thee ; 
And juft it is that I fhould pay the rent, 
Becaufe the benefit accrues to me. 



We all acknowledge both thy power and love 
To be exafl:, tranfcendent, and divine ; 
Who doft fo ftrongly and fo fweetly move, 
While all things have their will, yet none but thine, 

For either thy command, or thy permiflion 
Lay hands on all : they are thy right and left : 
The firft puts on with fpeed and expedition ; 
The other curbs finnes ftealing pace and theft ; 






THE CHURCH. 121 

Nothing efcapes them both : all muft appeare, 
And be difpoPd, and drefT'd, and tun'd by thee, 
Who fweetly temper'ft all. If we could heare 
Thy fkill and art, what mufick would it be ! 

Thou art in fmall things great, not fmall in any : 
Thy even praife can neither rife, nor fall. 
Thou art in all things one, in each thing many : 
For thou art infinite in one and all. 

Tempefts are calm to thee, they know thy hand, 
And hold it faft, as children do their fathers, 
Which crie and follow. Thou haft made poore fand 
Check the proud fea, e'vn when it fwells and gathers. 

Thy cupboard ferves the world : the meat is fet,* 
Where all may reach : no beaft but knows his feed. 
Birds teach us hawking : fifties have their net : 
The great prey on the lefTe, they on fome weed. 

Nothing ingendered doth prevent his meat ; 
Flies have their table fpread, ere they appeare ; 
Some creatures have in winter what to eat ; 
Others do fleep, and envie not their cheer. 

How finely doft thou times and feafons fpin, 
And make a twift checker'd with night and day ! 
Which as it lengthens windes, and windes us in, 
As bowls go on, but turning all the way. 

Each creature hath a wifdome for his good. 
The pigeons feed their tender off-fpring, crying, 
When they are callow ; but withdraw their food, 
vVhen they are fledged, that needmay teach them flying. 

* " Thefe wait all upon thee, that thou mayeft give them meat 
in due feafon." — Psa. civ. 27. 



122 HERBERTS POEMS. 

Bees work for man ; and yet they never bruife 
Their matters flower, but leave it, having done, 
As fair as ever, and as fit to ufe : 
So both the flower doth flay, and hony run. 

Sheep eat the grafTe, and dung the ground for more : 
Trees after bearing drop their leaves for foil : 
Springs vent their ftreams, and by expenfe get ftore 
Clouds cool by heat, and baths by cooling boil. 

Who hath the vertue to exprefTe the rare 
And curious vertues both of herbs and ftones ? 
Is there an herb for that ? O that thy care 
Would mow a root, that gives expreflions ! 

And if an herb hath power, what hath the ftarres ? 
A rofe, befides his beautie, is a cure. 
DoubtlefTe our plagues and plentie, peace and warres, 
Are there much furer than our art is fure. 

Thou haft hid metals : man may take them thence ; 
But at his perill : when he digs the place, 
He makes a grave ; as if the thing had fenfe, 
And threatened man, that he mould fill the ipace. 

Ev'n poyfons praife thee. Should a thing be loft ? 
Should creatures want, for want of heed their due ? 
Since where are poyfons, antidotes are moft ; 
The help ftands clofe, and keeps the fear in view. 

The fea, which feems to ftop the traveller, 
Is by a fhip the fpeedier paflage made. 
The windes, who think they rule the mariner, 
Are ruPd by him, and taught to ferve his trade. 



THE CHURCH. I 23 

And as thy houfe is full, fo I adore 

Thy curious art in marfhalling thy goods. 

The hills with health abound, the vales with (tore ; 

The South with marble ; North with furres and woods. 

Hard things are glorious ; eafie things good cheap ; 
The common all men have ; that which is rare, 
Men therefore feek to have, and care to keep. 
The healthy frofts with fummer-fruits compare. 

Light without winde is glaffe : warm without weight 
Is wooll and furres : cool without clofeneffe, made : 
Speed without pains, a horfe : tall without height, 
A fervile hawk : low without loffe, a fpade. 

All countries have enough to ferve their need : 
If they feek fine things, thou doft make them run 
For their offence ; and then doft turn their fpeed 
To be commerce and trade from funne to funne. 

Nothing wears clothes, but man ; nothing doth need 
But he to wear them. Nothing ufeth fire, 
But Man alone, to mow his heav'nly breed : 
And onely he hath fuell in defire. 

When th' earth was dry, thou mad'ft a fea of wet : 
When that lay gather'd, thou didft broach* the moun- 
tains : 
When yet fome places could no moifture get, 
The windes grew gard'ners, and the clouds good foun- 
tains. 



* To pierce a veffel in order to draw out the liquor. Bifhop 
Pearfon employs the word in the fame fenfe as Herbert : " When 
his rod had cealed to • broach 1 the rocks." — On the Creed, 
Art. 1. 



124 Herbert's poems. 

Rain, do not hurt my flowers ; but gently fpend 
Your hony drops : prelTe not to fmell them here ; 
When they are ripe their odour will afcend, 
And at your lodging with their thanks appeare. 

How harm are thorns to pears ! and yet they make 
A better hedge, and need lelTe reparation. 
How fmooth are filks compared with a ftake, 
Or with a ftone ! yet make no good foundation. 

Sometimes thou doll: divide thy gifts to man, 
Sometimes unite. The Indian nut alone 
Is clothing, meat and trencher, drink and can, 
Boat, cable, fail and needle, all in one. 

Moft herbs that grow in brooks, are hot and dry, 
Cold fruits warm kernells help againft the winde. 
The lemmons juice and rinde cure mutually. 
The whey of milk doth loofe, the milk doth binde. 

Thy creatures leap not, but exprelTe a feaft, 
Where all the guefts fit clofe, and nothing wants. 
Frogs marry filh and flefli ; bats, bird and beaft : 
Sponges, nonfenfe and fenfe; mines, th' earth and 
plants. 

To mow thou art not bound, as if thy lot 
Were worfe than ours, fometimes thou fhifteft hands. 
Moft things move th' under-jaw ; the Crocodile not. 
Moft things fleep lying, th' Elephant leans or ftands. 

But who hath praife enough ? nay, who hath any ? 
None can exprefTe thy works, but he that knows them ; 
And none can know thy works, which are fo many, 
And fo complete, but onely he that owes them. 



THE CHURCH. I 25 

All things that are, though they have fev'rall waves, 
Yet in their being joyn with one advice 
To honour thee : and fo I give thee praife 
In all my other hymnes, but in this twice. 

Each thing that is, although in ufe and name 
It go for one, hath many wayes in frore 
To honour thee ; and fo each hymne thy fame 
Extolleth many wayes, yet this one more. 



Hope. 

I GAVE to Hope a watch of mine : but he 
An anchor gave to me. 
Then an old Prayer-book I did prefent : 

And he an optick* fent. 
With that I gave a viall full of tears : 
But he a few green eares. 
Ah Loyterer ! Pie no more, no more Tie bring : 
I did expecT: a ring. 



Sinnes round. 

SORRIE I am, my God, forrie I am, 
That my offences courfe it in a ring. 
My thoughts are working liice a bufie flame, 
Untill their cockatrice they hatch and bring : 
And when they once have perfected their draughts, 
My words take fire from my inflamed thoughts. 



* An inftrumenc of figm 



126 Herbert's poems. 

My words take fire from my inflamed thoughts, 

Which fpit it forth like the Sicilian* hill. 

They vent the wares, and pafTe them with their faults, 

And by their breathing ventilate the ill. 

But words fuffice not, where are lewd intentions : 

My hands do joyn to finifh the inventions : 

My hands do joyn to finifh the inventions : 

And fo my finnes afcend three ftories high, 

As Babel grew, before there were difTentions. 

Yet ill deeds loyter not : for they fupplie 

New thoughts of finning ; wherefore, to my fir .me 

Sorrie I am, my God, forrie I am. 



Time. 

MEETING with Time, flack thing, faid I, 
Thy fithe is dull ; whet it for fhame. 
No marvell Sir, he did replie, 
If it at length deferve fome blame : 

But where one man would have me grinde it, 
Twentie for one too fharp do finde it. 

Perhaps fome fuch of old did pafTe, 

Who above all things lov'd this life ; 

To whom thy fithe a hatchet was, 

Which now is but a pruning-knife. 

Chrifts coming hath made man thy debter. 
Since by thy cutting he grows better. 

And in his blefling thou art bleft : 
For where thou onely wert before 
An excutioner at befr, 
Thou art a gard'ner now, and more. 

* Mount ^tna. 



THE CHURCH. 

An ufher to convey our fouls 
Beyond the utmoft ftarres and poles. 

And this is that makes life fo long, 
While it detains us from our God. 
Ev'n pleafures here increafe the wrong : 
And length of dayes lengthens the rod. 

Who wants the place, where God doth dwell, 

Partakes already half of hell. 

Of what ftrange length muft that needs be, 
Which ev'n eternitie excludes ! 
Thus farre Time heard me patiently : 
Then chafing faid, This man deludes : 

What do I here before his doore ? 

He doth not crave lefle time, but more. 



127 






Gratefulneffe. 



OTHOU that haft giv'n fo much to me, 
Give one thing more, a gratefull heart. 
See how thy beggar works on thee 
By art. 

He makes thy gifts occafion more, 
And fayes, If he in this be croft, 
All thou haft giv'n him heretofore 
Is loft. 

But thou didft reckon, when at firft 
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave, 
What it would come to at the worft 
To fave. 



128 Herbert's poems. 

Perpetuall knockings at thy doore, 
Tears fullying thy tranfparent rooms 
Gift upon gift: ; much would have more, 
And comes. 

This not withftanding, thou wentft on 
And did ft allow us all our noife : 
Nay thou haft made a figh and grone 
Thy joyes. 

Not that thou haft not ftill above 
Much better tunes, then grones can make ; 
But that thefe countrey-aires thy love 
Did take. 

Wherefore I crie, and crie again ; 
And in no quiet canft thou be, 
Till I a thankfull heart obtain 

Of thee: 

Not thankfull, when it pleafeth me ; 
As if thy bleflings had fpare dayes : 
But fuch a heart, whofe pulfe may be 
Thy praife. 



Peace. 



SWEET Peace, where doft thou dwell ? 
Let me once know. 
I fought thee in a fecret cave, 

And afk'd, if Peace were there. 
A hollow winde did feem to anfwer, No ; 
Go feek elfewhere. 



I humbly 
[crave. 



THE CHURCH. 120, 

I did ; and going did a rainbow note : 
Surely, thought I, 
This is the lace of Peace's coat : 
I will fearch out the matter. 
But while I lookt, the clouds immediately 
Did break and fcatter. 

Then went I to a garden, and did fpy 
A gallant flower, 
The crown Imperiall :* Sure, faid I, 
Peace at the root muft dwell. 
But when I digg'd, I faw a worme devoure 
What fhow'd fo well. 



At length I met a rev'rend good old man : 
Whom when for Peace 
I did demand, he thus began ; 
There was a Prince of old 
At Salem dwelt, who liv'd with good increafe 
Of flock and fold. 

He fweetly liv'd ; yet fweetnefTe did not fave 
His life from foes. 
But after death out of his grave 

There fprang twelve ftalks of wheat : 
Which many wondring at, got fome of thofe 
To plant and fet. 



* The flower with that name. Cowley, in his hymn to light, 
has a beautiful allufion to it : — 

" A crimfon garment in the rofe thou wear'ft j 
A crown of ftudded gold thou beafft j 
The virgin lilies in their white, 
Are clad but with the lawn of almoft naked light.** 
K 



130 HERBERTS POEMS. 

It profper'd ftrangely, and did foon difperfe 
Through all the earth : 
For they that tafte it do rehearfe, 
That vertue lies therein ; 
A fecret vertue, bringing peace and mirth 
By flight of finne. 

Take of this grain, which in my garden grows, 
And grows for you; 
Make bread of it : and that repofe, 
And peace which ev'ry where 
With fo much earneftneffe you do purfue, 
Is onely there. 



o 



Confeflion. 

WHAT a cunning gueft 
Is this fame grief ! within my heart I made 
Clofets ; and in them many a cheft ; 
And like a mailer in my trade, 
In thofe chefts, boxes ; in each box, a till : 
Yet grief knows all, and enters when he will. 

No fcrue, no piercer can 
Into a piece of timber worke and winde, 

As God's afflictions into man, 

When he a torture hath defigned. 
They are too fubtill for the fubt'lleft hearts ; 
And fall, like rheumes, upon the tendreft parts. 

We are the earth ; and they, 
Like moles within us, heave, and caft about : 
And till they foot and clutch their prey, 



THE CHURCH. I 3 I 

They never cool, much leflc give out. 
No fmith can make fuch locks, but they have keyes ; 
Clofets are halls to them ; and hearts, high-wayes. 

Onely an open breaft 
Doth fhut them out, fo that they cannot enter ; 
Or, if they enter, cannot reft, 
But quickly feek fome new adventure. 
Smooth open hearts no faftning have ; but fiction 
Doth give a hold and handle to affliction. 

Wherefore my faults and finnes, 
Lord, I acknowledge ; take thy plagues away: 

For fince confeffion pardon winnes, 

I challenge here the brighten 1 day, 
The cleareft diamond : let them do their beft, 
They fhall be thick and cloudie to my breaft. 



GiddinefTe. 

OH, what a thing is man ! how farre frojri power, 
From fettled peace and reft ! 
He is fome twentie fev'rall men at leaft 
Each fev'rall houre. 

One while he counts of heav'n, as of his treafure * 
But then a thought creeps in, 

And calls him coward, who for fear of finne 
Will lofe a pleafure. 

Now he will fight it out, and to the warres ; 

Now eat his bread in peace, 
And fnudge * in quiet : now he fcorns increafe ; 

Now all day fpares. 

* Lie fnug 
K 2 



I32 HERBERTS POEMS. 

He builds a houfe, which quickly down muft go, 

As if a whirlwinde blew 
And crufht the building : and it's partly true, 

His minde is fo. 

O what a fight were Man, if his attires 

Did alter with his minde ; 
And, like a Dolphins ikinne, his clothes combin'd 

With his defires !* 

Surely if each one faw anothers heart, 

There would be no commerce, 

No fale or bargain paffe : all would difperfe, 
And live apart. 

Lord, mend or rather make us : one creation 

Will not fuffice our turn : 
Except thou make us dayly, we mail fpurn 

Our own falvation. 



The Bunch of Grape s. 

JOY, I did lock thee up : but fome bad man 
Hath let thee out again : 
And, now, methinks, I am where I began 

Sev'n years ago : one vogue and vein,f 
One aire of thoughts ufurps my brain, 
I did toward Canaan draw; but now I am 
Brought back to the Red fea, the fea of fhame. 

* If his outward appearance changed like his mind and a? 
often. 

f Fafhion. 



THE CHURCH. 



'33 






For as the Jews of old by God's command 

Travell'd, and faw no town ; 
So now each Chriftian hath his journeys fpann'd : 

Their ftorie pennes and fets us down. 

A fingle deed is fmall renown. 
Gods works are wide, and let in future times; 
His ancient juftice overflows our crimes. 

Then have we too our guardian fires and clouds ; 

Our Scripture-dew drops fa ft : 
We have our fands and ferpents, tents and fhrowds 
Alas ! our murmurino-s come not laft. 

o 

But where's the clufter ?* where's the tafte 
Of mine inheritance ? Lord, if I muft borrow, 
Let me as well take up their joy, as forrow. 

But can he want the grape, who hath the wine ? 

I have their fruit and more. 
Bleffed be God ? who profper'd Noahs vine, 

And made it bring forth grapes good ftore. 

But much more him I muft adore, 
Who of the laws fowre juice fweet wine did make, 
Ev'n God himfelf being preffed for my fake. 



Love-unknown. + 

DEARE friend, fit down, the tale is long and fad : 
And in my faintings I prefume your love 
Vv ill more complie, than help. A Lord I had, 
And have, of whom fome grounds, which may improve, 

* Numbers xiii. 23. 

f Mr. Coleridge mentions this poem " as a finking example and 
illuitration that the chara&eriftic fault of our elder poets is the 
reverie of that which diftinguifhes too many of our recent veri- 
fiers 5 the one conveying the mod fantaftic thoughts in the molt 



134 Herbert's poems. 

I hold for two lives, and both lives in me. 
To him I brought a dim of fruit one dav, 
And in the middle plac'd my heart. But he 

(I figh to fay) 
Lookt on a fervant, who did know his eye 
Better than you know me, or (which is one) 
Then I myfelf. The fervant inftantly 
Quitting the fruit, feiz'd on my heart alone, 
And threw it in a font, wherein did fall 
A ftream of bloud, which iffu'd from the fide 
Of a great rock : I well remember all, 
And have good caufe : there it was dipt and dy'd, 
And wafht, and wrung : the very wringing yet 
Enforceth tears. Your heart was foul, I fear. 
Indeed 'tis true. I did and do commit 
Many a fault more than my leafe will bear ; 
Yet ftill afkt pardon, and was not deni'd. 
But you fhall heare. After my heart was well, 
And clean and fair, as I one even-tide 

(I figh to tell) 
Walkt by myfelf abroad, I faw a large 
And fpacious fornace flaming, and thereon 
A boyling caldron, round about whofe verge 
Was in great letters fet Affliction. 
The greatnefle fhew'd the owner. So I went 
To fetch a facrifice out of my fold, 
Thinking with that, which I did thus prefent, 
To warm his love, which I did fear grew cold. 
But as my heart did tender it, the man 
Who was to take it from me, flipt his hand, 
And threw my heart into the fcalding pan ; 
My heart, that brought it (do you underftand ?) 
The offerers heart. Your heart was hard, I fear. 

correct and natural language ; the other, in the moft fantaftic lan- 
guage, conveying the moft trivial thoughts. The latter is a riddle 
of words, the former an enigma of thoughts." — Biog. Lit. ii. 98. 



THE CHURCH. 1 35 

Indeed 'tis true. I found a callous matter 

Began to fpread and to expatiate there : 

But with a richer drug, then fcalding water, 

I bath'd it often, ev'n with holy bloud, 

Which at a board, while many drank bare wine, 

A friend did ileal into my cup for good, 

Ev'n taken inwardly, and moft divine 

To fupple hardnefles. But at the length 

Out of the caldron getting, foon I fled 

Unto my houfe, where to repair the ftrength 

Which 1 had loft, I hafted to my bed : 

But when I thought to fleep out all thefe faults, 

(I figh to fpeak) 
I found that fome had ftufPd the bed with thoughts, 
I would fay- thorns. Deare, could my heart not break, 
When with my pleafures ev'n my reft was gone ? 
Full well I underftood, who had been there : 
For I had giv'n the key to none, but one : 
It muft be he. Your heart was dull, I fear. 
Indeed a flack and fleepie ftate of minde 
Did oft poffefie me, fo that when I pray'd, 
Though my lips went, my heart did ftay behinde. 
But all my fcores were by another paid, 
Who took the debt upon him. Truly, Friend, 
For ought I heare, your Mafter fhows to you 
More favour then you wot of. Mark the end. 
The Font did onely, what was old, renew : 
The Caldron fuppled, what was grown too hard : 
The Thorns did quicken, what was grown too dull : 
All did but ftrive to mend, what you had marr'd. 
Wherefore be cheer'd, and praife him to the full 
Each day, each houre, each moment of the week, 
Who fain would have you be, new, tender, quick 



136 Herbert's poems. 

Man's Medley. 

HEARK, how the birds do fing, 
And woods do ring. 
A creatures have their joy, and man hath his. 
Yet if we rightly meafure, 

Mans joy and pleafure 
Rather hereafter, then in prefent, is. 

To this life things of (enk ' 

Make their pretence : 
In th' other Angels have a right by birth : 
Man ties them both alone, 

And makes them one, 
With th' one hand touching heav'n, with th' other earth. 

In foul he mounts and flies, 
In flefh he dies. 
He wears a ftuffe whofe thread is courfe and round, 
But trimm'd with curious lace, 
And mould take place 
After the trimming, not the ftufFe and ground. 

Not, that he may not here 

Tafte of the cheer : 
But as birds drink, and ftraight lift up their head i 
So muft he fip and think 
Of better drink 
He may attain to, after he is dead. 

But as his joyes are double, 
So is his trouble. 
He hath two winters, other things but one : 
Both frofts and thoughts do nip : 
And bite his lip ; 
And he of all things fears two deaths alone. 



THE CHURCH. I37 

Yet ev'n the greateft griefs 
May be reliefs, 
Could he but take them right, and in their wayes. 
Happie is he, whofe heart 

Hath found the art 
To turn his double pains to double praife. 






The Storm. 



IF as che windes and waters here below 
Do flie and flow, 
My fighs and tears as bufy were above ; 

Sure they would move 
And much affect thee, as tempeftuous times 
Amaze poore mortals, and object* their crimes. 

Starres have their ftorms, ev'n in a high degree, 

As well as we. 
A tnrobbing confeience fpurred by remorfe 

Hath a ftrange force : 
It quits the earth, and mounting more and more, 
Dares to aflault thee, and befiege thy doore. 

There it ftands knocking, to thy muficks wrong, 
And drowns the fong. 

Glorie and honour are fet by till it 
An anfwer get. 

Poets have wrong' d poore ftorms : fuch dayes arc beft ; 

They purge the aire without, within the breaft. 



Throw forward, ib as to confront them. 



138 Herbert's poems. 

Paradife. 



I 



BLESSE thee, Lord, becaufe I grow 
Among thy trees, which in a row 
To thee both fruit and order ow. 



What open force, or hidden charm 
Can blaft my fruit, or bring me harm, 
While the inclofure is thine arm ? 

Inclofe me ftill for fear I start. 
Be to me rather fharp and tart, 
Than let me want thy hand and art. 

When thou doft greater judgements spare. 
And with thy knife but prune and pare, 
Ev'n fruitful trees more fruitfull are, 

Such fharpnes fliows the fweeteft frend, 
Such cuttings rather heal th-an rend. 
And fuch beginnings touch their end. 



The Method. 

^OORE heart, lament. 
For fince thy God refufeth ftill, 
There is ibme rub, fome difcontent, 
Which cools his will. 



p( 



Thy Father could 
Quickly effect, what thou doft move ; 
For he is Power : and fure he would ; 

For he is Love. 



THE CHURCH. I ^ 

Go fcarch this thing, 
Tumble thy breaft, and turn thy book : 
If thou hadft loft a glove or ring, 

Wouldft thou not look ? 

What do I fee 
Written above there ? Yefterday 
I did behave me careleflly, 

When I did pray. 

And fhould Gods eare 
To fuch indifferents chained be, 
Who do not their own motions heare ? 

Is God leffe free ? 

But ftay ! what's there ? 
Late when I would have fomething done, 
I had a motion to forbear, 

Yet I went on. 

And fhould Gods eare, 
Which needs not man, be ty'd to thofe 
Who heare not him, but quickly heare 

His utter foes ? 

Then once more pray: 
Down with thy knees, up with thy voice: 
Seek pardon firft, and God will fay, 

Glad heart rejoyce. 



Divinitie. 



AS men, for fear the ftarres fhould deep and nod, 
And trip at night, have fpheres fuppli'd ; 
t\s if a flarre were duller than a clod, 

Which knows his way without a guide : 



140 Herbert's poems. 

Juft fo the other heav'n they alfo ferve, 

Divinities tranfcendent fkie : 
Which with the edge of wit they cut and carve. 

Reafon triumphs, and faith lies by. 



Could not that wifdome, which firft broacht the wine, 
Have thicken'd it with definitions ? 

And jagg'd his feamleffe coat, had that been fine, 
With curious queftions and divifions ? 

But all the doctrine, which he taught and gave, 

Was cleare as heav'n, from whence it came. 

At leaft thofe beams of truth, which onely fave, 
SurpafTe in brightneffe any flame. 



Love God, and Love your neighbour. Watch and pray, 

Do as you would be done unto. 
O dark inftr udtions, ev'n dark as day! 

Who can thefe Gordian knots undo ? 



But he doth bid us take his bloud for wine. 

Bid what he pleafe ; yet I am fure, 
To take and tafte what he doth there defigne, 

Is all that faves, and not obfcure. 



Then burn thy Epicycles, foolifh man ; 

Break all thy fpheres, and fave thy head; 
Faith needs no ftaffe of flefh, but ftoutly can 

To heav'n alone both go, and leade. 



Hi 



THE CHURCH. 



Ephef. iv. 30. 



"grieve not the holy spirit," etc. 

AND art thou grieved, fweet and facred Dove, 
When I am fowre, 
And croffe thy love ? 
Grieved for me ? the God of ftrength and power 
Griev'd for a worm, which when I tread, 
I pafle away and leave it dead ? 

Then weep, mine eyes, the God of love doth grieve ; 
Weep foolifh heart, 
And weeping live ; 
For death is drie as duft. Yet if ye part, 
End as the night, whofe fable hue 
Your finnes exprefle -> melt intc dew. 



When fawcie mirth fhall knock or call at doore. 
Cry out, Get hence, 
Or cry no more. 
Almightie God doth grieve, he puts on fenfe : 
I finne not to my grief alone, 
But to my Gods too > he doth grone. 

O take thy lute, and tune it to a ftrain, 
Which may with thee 
All day complain. 
There can no difcord but in ceafing be. 
Marbles can weep ; and furely firings 
More bowels have, than fuch hard things. 



I42 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Lord, I adjudge myfelf to tears and grief. 
Ev'n endleffe tears 
Without relief. 
If a clearc fpring for me no time forbears, 
But runnes, although I be not drie ; 
I am no Cryftall, what mall I ? 

Yet if I wail not ftill, fince ftill to wail 
Nature denies ; 
And flefli would fail, 
If my deferts were mailers of mine eyes : 

Lord, pardon, for thy fonne makes good 
My want of tears with ftore of bloud. 



The Familie. 



WHAT doth this noife of thoughts within my heart, 
As if they had a part ? 
What do thefe loud complaints and pulling fears, 
As if there were no rule or eares ? 

But, Lord, the houfe and familie are thine, 
Though fome of them repine. 
Turn out thefe wranglers, which defile thy feat : 
For where thou dwelleft all is neat. 

Firft Peace and Silence all difputes controll, 

Then Order plaies* the foul ; 
And giving all things their fet forms and houres, 

Makes of wilde woods fweet walks and bowres 



* Plays upon it like a mufical inftrument, and brings it into 
tiine. 



THE CHURCH. I43 

Humble Obedience nearc the doore doth ftand, 

Expecting a command : 
Then whom in waiting nothing feems more flow, 
Nothing more quick when me doth go. 

Joys oft are there, and griefs as oft as joyes ; 

But griefs without a noife : 
Yet fpeak they louder, then diftemper'd fears : 
What is fo fhrill* as filent tears ? 

This is thy houfe, with thefe it doth abound : 

And where thefe are not found 
Perhaps thou com' ft fometimes, and for a day ; 
But not to make a conftant ftay. 



The Size. 



CONTENT thee, greedie heart. 
Modeft and moderate joyes to thofe, that have 
Title to more hereafter when they part, 
Are pafling brave. 
Let th' upper fprings into the low 
Defcend and fall, and thou doft flow. 






* Clear fpeaking, without harfhnefs : fo we read of the waking 
of Adam from deep : — 

" Which the only found 
Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, 
Lightly diiperfed, and the mrill matin fong 
Of birds on every bough." 

Paradise Lost, v. e>. 



144 HERBERT S POEMS. 






What though fome have a fraught * 
Of cloves and nutmegs, and in cinamon fail ? 
If thou haft wherewithal! to fpice a draught. 
When griefs prevail, 
And for the future time art heir 
To th' Ifle of fpices, Is't not fair? 

To be in both worlds full 
Is more than God was, who was hungrie here. 
Wouldft thou his laws of fafting difanull ? 
Ena£t good cheer ? 
Lay out thy joy, yet hope to fave it ? 
Wouldft thou both eat thy cake, and have it ? 

Great joyes are all at once : 
But little do referve themfelves for more : 
Thofe have their hopes ; thefe what they have renounce, 
And live on fcore ; 
Thofe are at home ; thefe journey ftill, 
And meet the reft on Sions hill. 

Thy Saviour fentenc'd joy, 

And in the flefh condemn'd it as unfit, 

At leaft in lump : for fuch doth oft deftroy; 

Whereas a bit 

Doth tice us on to hopes of more, 

And for the prefent health reftore. 

A Chriftians ftate and cafe 
Is not a corpulent, but a thinne and fpare, 
Yet active ftrength : whofe long and bonie face 
Content and care 
Do feem to equally divide, 
Like a pretender, not a bride. 

* Freight. 



THE CHURCH. 1^5 

Wherefore fit down, good heart j 
Grafp not at much, for fear thou lofeft all. 
If comforts fell according to defert, 

They would great frofts and fnows deftroy : 
For we fhould count, Since the laft joy. 

Then clofe again the feam, 
Which thou haft open'd; do not fpread thy robe 
In hope of great things. Call to minde thy dream, 
An earthly globe, 
On whofe meridian was engraven, 
Thefe feas are tears, and Heav'n the haven. 



Artillerie. 

AS I one ev'ning fat before my cell, 
Me thought a ftarre didfhoot into my lap. 
I roie, and fhook my clothes, as knowing well, 
That from fmall fires comes oft no fmall mifhap 
When fuddenly I heard one fay, 
Do as thou ufeft, difobey, 
Expell good motions from thy breaft, 
Which have the face of fire, but end in reft. 

I, who had heard of mufick in the fpheres, 
But not of fpeech in ftarres, began to mufe : 
But turning to my God, whose minifters 
The ftarres and all things are ; If I refufe 
Dread Lord, faid I, fo oft my good; 
Then I refufe not ev'n with bloud 
To wafh away my ftubborn thought : 
For I will do, or fuffer what I ought. 

L 



146 Herbert's poems. 

But I have alfo ftarres and {hooters too, 
Born where thy fervants both artilleries ufe. 
My tears and prayers night and day do woo, 
And work up to thee ; yet thou dolt refufe. 
Not but I am (I muft fay ftill) 
Much more oblig'd to do thy will, 
Than thou to grant mine : but becaufe 
Thy promife now hath ev'n fet thee thy laws. 

Then we are mooters both, and thou doft deigne 
To enter combate with us, and conteft 
With thine own clay. But I would parley* fain : 
Shunne not my arrows, and behold my breaft. 

Yet if thou fhunneft, I am thine : 

I muft be fo, if I am mine. 

There is no articling with thee : 
I am but finite, yet thine infinitely. 



Church-rents and fchifmes. 



BRAVE rofe, (alas!) where art thou? in the chair 
Where thou didft lately fo triumph and mine, 
A worm doth fit, whofe many feet and hair 
Are the more foul, the more thou wert divine. 
This, this hath done it, this did bite the root 
And bottome of the leaves : which when the winde 
Did once perceive, it blew them under foot, 
Where rude unhallow'd fteps do crufh and grinde 
Their beauteous glories. Onely fhreds of thee, 
And thole all bitten, in thy chair I fee. 

* Confer. 






THE CHURCH. 147 

Why doth my Mother blufh ? is fhe the rofe, 
And mows it fo? Indeed Chrifts precious bloud 
Gave you a colour once ; which when your foes 
Thought to let out, the bleeding did you good, 
And made you look much frefher than before. 
But when debates and fretting jealoufies 
Did worm and work within you more and more, 
Your colour faded, and calamities 

Turned your ruddie into pale and bleak : 
Your health and beautie both began to break. 



Then did your fev'rall parts unloofe and ftart : 
Which when your neighbours faw, like a north-winde 
They rufhed in, and caft them in the dirt 
Where Pagans tread. O Mother deare and kinde, 
Where fhall I get me eyes enough to weep, 
As many eyes as ftarres ? fmce it is night, 
And much of Afia and Europe faft afieep, 
And ev'n all Africk ; would at leaft I might 
With thefe two poore ones lick up all the dew, 
Which falls by night, and poure it out for you ! 



Juftice. 



ODREADFULL juftice, what a fright and terrour 
Waft thou of old, 
When finne and errour 
Did mow and fhape thy looks to me, 
And through their glafle difcolour thee ! 
He that did but look up, was proud and bold. 

L 2 



148 Herbert's poems. 

The difhes* of thy balance feem'd to gape, 
Like two great pits ; 
The beam and fcape 
Did like fome tott'ring engine mow : 
Thy hand above did burn and glow, 
Daunting the fto.uteft hearts, the proudeft wits. 

But now that Chrifts pure vaii preients the fight, 
I fee no fears : 
Thy hand is white, 
Thy fcales like buckets, which attend 
And interchangeably defcend, 
Lifting to heaven from this well of tears. 

For where before thou ftill didft call on me, 
Now I ftill touch 
And harp on thee 
Gods promifes hath made thee mine : 
Why mould I juftice now decline ? 
Againft me there is none, but for me much. 



The Pilgrimage. 



ITRAVELL'D on, feeing the hill, where lay 
My expectation. 
A long it was and weary way. 
The gloomy cave of Defperation 
I left on th' one, and on the other fide 

The rock of Pride. 



The fcales which Juftice holds. 






THE CHURCH. 149 

And fo I came to phanfies medow ftrow'd 

With many a flower : 
Fain would I here have made abode, 
But I was quicken'd by my houre. 
So to cares cops* I came, and there got through 
With much ado. 

That led me to the wilde of paflion; which 
Some call the wold ; 
A wafted place, but fometimes rich. 
Here I was robb'd of all my gold, 
Save one good Angell, which a friend had ti'd 
Clofe to my fide. 

At length I got unto the gladfome hill, 

Where lay my hope, 
Where lay my heart ; and climbing ftill, 
When I had gain'd the brow and top, 
A lake of brackifh waters on the ground 
Was all I found. 

With that abafh'd and ftruck with many a fting 

Of fwarming fears, 
I fell, and cry'd, Alas my King ; 
Can both the way and end be tears ? 
Yet taking heart I rofe, and then perceiv'd 
I was deceiv'd : 

ly hill was further ; fo I flung away, 

Yet heard a crie 
Juft as I went, None goes that way 
And lives : If that be all, faid I, 
ifter fo foul a journey death is fair, 

And but a chair. 

* Copfe. 



ISO 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



The Holdfaft. 



I THREATENED to obferve the ftria decree 
Of my deare God with ail my power and might : 
But I was told by one, it could not be : 
Yet I might truft in God to be my light. 

Then will I truft, faid I, in him alone. 

Nay, ev'n to truft in him, was alfo his : 
We muft confeffe, that nothing is our own. 

Then I confeffe that he my fuccour is : 

But to have nought is ours, not to confeffe 

That we have nought. I flood amaz'd at this, 
Much troubled, till I heard a friend expreffe, 

That all things were more ours by being his. 
What Adam had, and forfeited for all, 
Chrift keepeth now, who cannot fail or fall. 



Complaining. 



D 



^O not beguile my heart, 
Becaufe thou art 
My power ana wifdome. Put me not to fhame, 

Becaufe I am 
Thy clay that weeps, thy duft that calls. 



Thou art the Lord of glorie ; 

The deed and ftorie 
Are both thy due : but I a filly flie, 

That live or die, 
According as the weather falls. 



THE CHURCH. 151 

Art thou all juftice, Lord : 

Shows not thy word 
More attributes ? Am I all throat or eye, 
To weep or cry ? 
Have I no parts but thofe of grief? 

Let not thy wrathfull power 
Afflict my houre, 
My ^ch of life : or let thy gracious power 
Contrail my houre, 
That I may climbe and finde relief. 



The Difcharge. 



BUSIE enquiring heart, what wouldft thou know ? 
Why doft thou prie, 
And turn, and leer, and with a licorous* eye 
Look high and low ; 
And in thy lookings ftretch and grow ? 

Haft thai not made thy counts, and fumm'd up all ? 

Did not thy heart 
Give up the whole, and with the whole depart ? 

Let what will fall : 
That which is paft who can recall ? 

Thy life s Gods, thy time to come is gone, 

And his is right. 
He is thy night at noon : he is at night 

Thy noon alone. 
Tie crop is his, for he hath fown. 

* Tempting, or inviting. 



152 Herbert's poems. 

And well it was for thee, when this befell, 

That God did make 
Thy bufineffe his, and in thy life partake : 

For thou canft tell, 
Tf it be his once, all is well. 

Onely the prefent is thy part and fee. 

And happy thou, 
If, though thou didft not beat thy future brow, 

Thou couldft well fee 
What prefent things requir'd of thee, 

They afk enough ; why fhouldft thou further go ? 

Raife not the mudde 
Of future depths, but drink the cleare and gooc. 

Dig not for wo 
In times to come ; for it will grow. 

Man and the prefent fit : if he provide, 

He breaks the fquare. 
This houre is mine : if for the next I care, 
I grow too wide, 
And do encroach upon deaths fide : 

For death each hour environs and furrounds. 

He that would know 
And care for future chances, cannot go 
Unto thofe grounds, 
But thro' a Churchyard which them >ounds, 

Things prefent (hrink and die : but they tha fpend 
Their thoughts and fenfe 

On future grief, do not remove it thence, 
But it extend, 
And draw the bottome out an end. 



THE CHURCH. I 53 

God chains the dog till night : wilt loofe the chain, 

And wake thy forrow ? 
Wilt thou foreftall it, and now grieve to morrow, 
And then again 
Grieve over frefhly all thy pain ? 

Either grief will not come : or if it muft, 
Do not forecaft : 
while it cometh, it is almoft paft. 
Away diftruft : 
My God hath promiFd ; he is juft. 



Praife. 



KING of glorie, King of peace, 
I will love thee : 
And that love may never ceafe, 
I will move thee. 

Thou haft granted my requeft, 

Thou haft heard me : 

Thou didft note my working breaft, 
Thou haft fpar'd me. 

Wherefore with my utmoft art 
I will fing thee, 

And the cream of all my heart 
I will bring thee. 

Though my fins againft me cried, 

Thou didft cleare me ; 

And alone, when they replied, 

Thou didft heare me. 






154 HERBERTS POEMS. 

Sev'n whole dayes, not one in feven, 
I will praife thee. 

In my heart, though not in heaven, 
I can raife thee. 

Thou grew'ft foft and moift with tears, 
Thou relentedft. 

And when Juftice call'd for fears, 
Thou diffentedft. 

Small it is, in this poore fort 

To enroll thee : 

Ev'n eternitie is too fhort 

To extoll thee. 



An Offering. 

COME, bring thy gift. If bleffings were as flow 
As mens returns, what would become of fools ? 
What haft thou there ? a heart ? but is it pure ? 
Search well, and fee ; for hearts have many holes. 
Yet one pure heart is nothing to beftow : 
In Chrift two natures met to be thy cure. 

O that within us hearts had propagation, 

Since many gifts do challenge many hearts ! 

Yet one, if good, may title to a number ; 

And fingle things grow fruitfull by deferts. 

In public judgments one may be a nation.* 

And fence a plague, while others fleep and flumber. 

* The crimes, or the faith of one, may bring a judgment, or a 
blefTing, upon a whole people j as in the cafe of David. 



THE CHURCH. 



*55 



But all I fear is left thy heart difpleafe, 
As neither good, nor one : fo oft divifions 
Thy lufts have made, and not thy lufts alone • 
Thy paflions alfo have their fet partitions. 
Thefe parcell out thy heart : recover thefe, 
And thou mayft offer many gifts in one. 

There is a balfome, or indeed a bloud, 

Dropping from heav'n, which doth both cleanfe and 

clofe 
All forts of wounds ; of fuch ftrange force it is. 
Seek out this All-heal, and feek no repofe, 
Until thou finde, and ufe it to thy good : 
Then bring thy gift ; and let thy hymne be this ; 

Since my fadnefie 

Into gladnefle, 
Lord thou doft convert, 

O accept 

What thou haft kept, 
As thy due defert. 

Had I many, 

Had I any, 
(For this heart is none) 

All were thine 

And none of mine, 
Surely thine alone. 

Yet thy favour 

May give favour 
To this poore oblation ; * 

And it raife 

To be thy praife, 
And be my falvation. 

# Offering. 



156 Herbert's poems. 

Longing. 

WITH fick and famifht eyes, 
With doubling knees and weary bones, 
To thee my cries, 
To thee my grones, 
To thee my fighs, my tears afcend : 
No end ? 

My throat, my foul is hoarfe ; 
My heart is wither'd like a ground 

Which thou doft curfe. 
My thoughts turn round, 
And make me giddie ; Lord, I fall, 
Yet call. 

From thee all pitie flows. 
Mothers are kinde, becaufe thou art, 
And doft difpofe 
To them a part : 
Their infants, them ; and they fuck thee 
More free. 

Bowels of pitie, heare ! 
Lord of my foul, love of my minde, 
Bow down thine eare ! 
Let not the winde 
Scatter my words, and in the fame 
Thy name ! 

Look on my forrows round ! 
Mark well my furnace ! O what flames, 
What heats abound ! 
What griefs, what fhames ! 
Confider, Lord ; Lord, bow thine eare, 
And heare ! 



THE CHURCH. I57 

Lord Jefu, thou didft bow 
Thy dying head upon the tree : 
O be not now 
More dead to me ! 
Lord, heare ! Shall he that made the eare 
Not heare ? 

Behold thy duft doth ftirre ; 
It moves, it creeps, it aims at thee ; 
Wilt thou deferre 
To fuccour me, 
Thy pile of duft, wherein each crumme 
Sayes, Come? 

To thee help appertains. 

Haft thou left all things to their courfe, 

And laid the reins 

Upon the horfe ? 

Is all lockt ? hath a finners plea 

No key ? 

Indeed the world's thy book, 
Where all things have their leafe aflign'd ? 
Yet a meek look 
Hath interlin'd. 
Thy board is full, yet humble guefts 
Finde nefts. 



Thou tarrieft, while I die, 
And fall to nothing : thou doft reign, 
And rule on high, 
While I remain 
In bitter grief: Yet am I ftil'd 

Thy childe. 



158 Herbert's poems. 

Lord, didft thou leave thy throne, 
Not to relieve? how can it be, 

That thou art grown 
Thus hard to me ? 
Were finne alive, good caufe there were 
To bear. 

But now both finne is dead, 
And all thy promifes live and bide. 

That wants his head ; 
Thefe fpeak and chide, 
And in thy bofome poure my tears, 
As theirs. 

Lord Jesu, heare my heart, 
Which hath been broken now fo long, 
That ev'ry part 
Hath got a tongue ; 
Thy beggars grow ; rid them away 
To-day. 

My love, my fweetneffe, heare ! 
By thefe thy feet, at which my heart 
Lies all the yeare, 
Pluck out thy dart, 
And heal my troubled breaft which cryes, 
Which dyes. 



The Bag. 



A 



WAY defpair ; my gracious Lord doth heare, 

Though windes and waves affault my keel. 
He doth preferve it ; he doth fteer, 
Ev'n when the boat feems moft to reel. 



THE CHURCH. 

Storms are the triumph of his art : 
Well may he clofe his eyes, but not his heart. 

Haft thou not heard, that my Lord Jefus di'd ? 
Then let me tell thee a ftrange ftorie. 
The God of power, as he did ride 
In his majesftick robes of glorie, 
Refolv'd to light ;* and fo one day 

He did defcend, undreiling all the way. 

The ftarres his tire of light and rings obtain'd, 
The cloud his bowe, the fire his fpear, 
The fky his azure mantle gain'd. 
And when they afk'd, what he would wear ; 
He fmil'd, and faid as he did go, 

He had new clothes a making here below, f 

When he was come as travellers are wont, 

He did repair unto an inne. 

Both then, and after, many a brunt 

He did endure to cancell finne : 

And having giv'n the reft before, 
Here he gave up his life to pay our fcore. 



*59 






But as he was returning, there came one 

I That ran upon him with a fpear. 
He, who came hither all alone, 
Bringing nor man, nor arms, nor fear, 
Receiv'd the blow upon his fide, 
And ftraight he turned, and to his brethren cry'd, 

* To defcend. 

f The reader of Cowley will think that he has a conceit from 
the Davideis. We find Bifhop Taylor writing on Good Friday : 

" His Father's burning wrath did make 
His very heart like melting wax to fweat 

Rivers of blood, 
Through the pure drainer of his (kin." 



ibo Herbert's poems. 

If ye have any thing to fend or write, 
(I have no bag, but here is room) 
Unto my father's hands and fight 
(Beleeve me) it mail fafely come. 
That I mail minde, what you impart ; 

Look, you may put it very neare my heart. 

Or if hereafter any of my friends 

Will ufe me in this kinde, the doore 
Shall ftill be open \ what he fends 
I will prefent, and fomewhat more, 
Not to his hurt. Sighs will convey 

Anything to me. Heark defpair, away. 



The J 



ews. 



POORE nation, whofe fweet fap, and juice 
Our cyens* have purloined, and left you drie ; 
Whofe ftreams we got by the Apoftles fluce, 
And ufe in baptifme, while ye pine and die : 
Who by not keeping once, became a debter ; 
And now by keeping lofe the letter : 

Oh that my prayers ! mine, alas ! 
Oh that fome Angel might a trumpet found : 
At which the Church falling upon her face 
Should crie fo loud, untill the trump were drown'd 
And by that crie of her deare Lord obtain, 

That your fweet fap might come again ! 

* Scions. 



THE CHURCH. l6l 



The Collar. 



I STRUCK the board, and cry'd No more ; 
I will abroad. 
What ? fhall I ever figh and pine ? 
My lines and life are free ; free as the road, 
Loofe as the winde, as large as ftore. 
Shall I be (till in fuit ? 
Have I no harveft but a thorn 
To let me bloud, and not reflore 
t What I have loft with cordiall fruit ? 
Sure there was wine, 
Before my fighs did drie it : there was corn, 

Before my tears did drown it. 
Is the yeare onely loft to me ? 

Have I no bayes to crown it ? 
No flowers, no garlands gay ? all blafted ? 
All wafted ? 
Not fo, my heart : but there is fruit, 
And thou haft hands. 
Recover all thy figh-blown age 
On double pleafures : leave thy cold difpute 
Of what is fit, and not forfake thy cage, 

Thy rope of fands, 
Which pettie thoughts have made, and made to thee 
Good cable, to enforce and draw, 

And be thy law, 
While thou didft wink and wouldft not fee. 
Away: take heed: 
I will abroad. 
Call in thy deaths head there : tie up thy fears. 
He that forbears 

M 



l62 HERBERTS POEMS. 

To fuit and ferve his need, 
Deferves his load. 
But as I rav'd and grew more fierce and wilde, 
At every word, 
Methought I heard one calling, Childe ; 
And I reply'd, My Lord. 



The Glimpfe. 



WHITHER away delight ? 
Thou cam' ft but now; wilt thou fo foon depart, 
And give me up to night ? 
For many weeks of lingring pain and fmart 
But one half houre of comfort for my heart ? 

Methinks delight mould have 
More fkill in mufick, and keep better time. 

Wert thou a winde or wave, 
They quickly go and come with lefler crime : 
Flowers look about, and die not in their prime. 

Thy fhort abode and ftay 
Feeds not, but addes to the defire of meat. 

Lime begg'd of old (they fay) 
A neighbour fpring to cool his inward heat ; 
Which by the fprings acceffe grew much more great. 

In hope of thee my heart 
Pickt here and there a crumme, and would not die ; 

But conftant to his part, 
When as my fears foretold this, did replie, 
A flender thread a gentle gueft will tie. 



THE CHURCH. 1 63 

J Yet if the heart that wept 

Muft let thee go, return when it doth knock. 
Although thy heap be kept 
For future times, the droppings of the flock 
May oft break forth, and never break the lock. 

If I have more to fpinne, 
The wheel fhall go, fo that thy ftay be fhort. 

Thou knowft how grief and finne 
Difturb the work. O make me not their fport, 
Who by thy coming may be made a Court ! 



Aflurance. 

O SPITEFUL bitter thought ! 
Bitterly fpitefull thought ! Couldft thou invent 
So high a torture ! Is fuch poyfon bought ? 
DoubtlefTe, but in the way of punifhment, 
When wit contrives to meet with thee, 
No fuch rank poyfon can there be. 

Thou faid'ft but even now, 
That all was not fo fair, as I conceiv'd, 
Betwixt my God and me ; that I allow 
And coin large hopes ; but, that I was deceiv'd : 

Either the league was broke, or neare it ; 

And, that I had great caufe to fear it. 



. 



And what to this ? what more 
ould poyfon, if it had a tongue, exprefle ? 
What is thy aim? wouldft thou unlock the doore 
To cold defpairs, and gnawing penfiveneffe ? 
Wouldft thou raife devils ? I fee, I know, 
I writ thy purpofe long ago. 
M 2 



164 Herbert's poems. 

But I will to my Father, 
Who heard thee fay it. O moft gracious Lord, 
If all the hope and comfort that I gather, 
Were from myfelf, I had not half a word, 

Not half a letter to oppofe 

What is objected by my foes. 

But thou art my defert : 
And in this league, which now my foes invade, 
Thou art not onely to perform thy part, 
But alfo mine : as when the league was made, 
Thou didft at once thyfelf indite, 
And hold my hand, while I did write. 

Wherefore if thou canft fail, 

Then can thy truth and I : but while rocks ftand, 

And rivers ftirre, thou canft not fhrink or quail : 

Yea, when both rocks and all things fhall difband, 

Then fhalt thou be my rock and tower, 

And make their ruine praife thy power. 

Now foolifh thought go on, 
Spin out thy thread, and make thereof a coat 
To hide thy fhame : for thou haft caft a bone, 
Which bounds on thee, and will not down thy throat. 
What for it felf love once began, 
Now love and truth will end in man. 



The Call. 



COME, my Way, my Truth, my Life : 
Such a Way, as gives us breath : 
Such a Truth, as ends all ftrife : 
Such a Life, as killeth death. 



THE CHURCH. 165 

Come, my Light, my Feaft, my Strength : 
Such a Light, as mows a feaft: 
Such a Feaft, as mends in length : 
Such a Strength, as makes his gueft. 

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart : 
Such a Joy, as none can move : 
Such a Love, as none can part : 
Such a Heart, as joyes in love. 



Clafping of Hands. 

LORD, thou art mine, and I am thine, 
If mine I am : and thine much more, 
Than I or ought, or can be mine. 
Yet to be thine, doth me reftore ; 
So that again I now am mine, 
And with advantage mine the more. 
Since this being mine, brings with it thine, 
And thou with me doft thee reftore. 
If I without thee would be mine, 
I neither fhould be mine nor thine. 

Lord, I am thine, and thou art mine : 
So mine thou art, that fomething more 
I may prefume thee mine, then thine 
For thou didft fuffer to reftore 
Not thee, but me, and to be mine : 
And with advantage mine the more, 
Since thou in death waft none of thine, 
Yet then as mine didft me reftore. 

O be mine ftill ! ftill make me thine ; 

Or rather make no Thine and Mine ! 



166 Herbert's poems. 



Praife. 

LORD, I will mean and fpeak thy praife, 
Thy praife alone. 
My bufie heart mail fpin it all my dayes : 
And when it flops for want of ftore, 
Then will I wring it with a figh or grone, 
That thou mayft yet have more. 

When thou doft favour any action, 
It runnes, it flies : 
All things concurre to give it a perfection. 
That which had but two legs before, 
When thou doft blefle, hath twelve : one wheel doth rife 
To twentie then, or more. 

But when thou doft on bufinefTe blow, 
It hangs, it clogs : 
Not all the teams of Albion in a row 
Can hale or draw it out of doore. 
Legs are but ftumps, and Pharaohs wheels but logs, 
And ftruggling hinders more. 

Thoufands of things do thee employ 
In ruling all 
This fpacious globe : Angels muft have their joy, 

Devils their rod, the fea his more, 
The windes their ftint : and yet when I did call, 
Thou heardft my call, and more. 

I have not loft one fingle tear : 

But when mine eyes 
Did weep to heav'n, they found a bottle* there 

* " Thou telleft my Sittings, put my tears into thy bottle." — 
Ps. lvi. 8. 



THE CHURCH. l6y 

(As we have boxes for the poore) 
Readie to take them in ; yet of a fize 

That would contain much more. 

But after thou hadft flipt a drop 
From thy right eye 
(Which there did hang like ftreamers neare the top 

Of fome fair church to (how the fore 
And bloudie battell which thou once didft trie) 
The glafTe was full and more. 

Wherefore I fing. Yet fince my heart, 

Though prefPd, runnes thin \ 
O that I might fome other hearts convert, 

And fo take up at ufe good ftore : 
That to thy chefts there might be coming in 
Both all my praife, and more ! 



Jofeph's Coat. 

WOUNDED I fing, tormented I indite, 
Thrown down I fall into a bed, and reft : 
Sorrow hath chang'd its note : fuch is his will 
Who changeth all things, as him pleafeth beft. 

For well he knows, if but one grief and fmart 
Among my many had his full career, 
Sure it would carrie with it ev'n my heart, 
And both would runne until they found a biere 
To fetch the bodie \ both being due to grief. 
But he hath fpoil'd the race ; and giv'n to anguilh 
One of Joyes coats, ticing it with relief 
To linger in me, and together languilh. 

I live to mew his power, who once did bring 
My joyes to weep, and now my griefs to fing. 



168 Herbert's poems, 

The Pulley. 

WHEN God at firft made man, 
Having a glafle of bleffings ftanding by; 
Let us (faid he) poure on him all v/e can : 
Let the worlds riches, which difperfed lie, 
Contract into a fpan. 

So ftrength firft made a way; 
Then beautie flow'd, then wifdome, honour, pleafure : 
When almoft all was out, God made a ftay, 
Perceiving that alone, of all his treafure, 

Reft in the bottome lay. 

For if I mould (faid he) 
Beftow this Jewell alfo on my creature, 
He would adore my gifts in ftead of me, 
And reft in Nature, not the God of Nature : 

So both mould lofers be. 

Yet let him keep the reft, 
But keep them with repining reftlefnefle : 
Let him be rich and wearie, that at leaft, 
If goodneffe leade him not, yet wearineffe 

May toffe him to my breaft. 



The PriefthoocL 

BLEST Order, which in power doft fo excell, 
That with th' one hand thou lifteft to the Iky, 
And with the other throweft down to hell 
In thy juft cenfures; fain would I draw nigh; 
Fain put thee on, exchanging my lay-fword 

For that of th' holy word. 






THE CHURCH. l6g 

But thou art fire, facred and hallow'd fire; 
And I but earth and clay: fhould I prefume 
To wear thy habit, the fevere attire 
My flender compofitions might confume. 
I am both foul and brittle, much unfit 

To deal in holy Writ. 

Yet have I often feen, by cunning hand 

And force of fire, what curious things are made 

Of wretched earth. Where once I fcorn'd to Hand, 

That earth is fitted by the fire and trade 

Of fkilfull artifts, for the boards of thofe 

Who make the braveft mows. 

But fince thofe great ones, be they ne're fo great, 
Come from the earth, from whence thofe veiTels come \ 
So that at once both feeder, dim, and meat, 
Have one beginning and one finall fumme : 
I do not greatly wonder at the fight, 

If earth in earth delight. 

But th' holy men of God fuch vefTels are, 
As ferve him up, who all the world commands. 
When God vouchfafeth to become our fare, 
Their hands convey him, who conveys their hands : 
O what pure things, moft pure muft thofe things be, 
Who bring my God to me ! 

Wherefore I dare not, I, put forth my hand 

To hold the Ark, although it feem to make 

Through th' old finnes and new doctrines of our land. 

Onely, fince God doth often vefTels make 

Of lowly matter for high ufes meet, 

I throw me at his feet. 



170 HERBERT S POEMS. 

There will I lie, untill my Maker feek 
For fome mean ftuffe whereon to mow his fkill : 
Then is my time. The diftance of the meek 
Doth natter power. Left good come ftiort of ill 
In praifing might, the poore do by fubmiflion 
What pride by oppofition. 



The Search. 



WHITHER, O, whither art thou fled, 
My Lord, my Love ? 
My fearches are my daily bread ; 

Yet never prove 

My knees pierce th' earth, mine eies the fkie : 
And yet the fphere 

And centre both to me denie 

That thou art there. 

Yet can I mark how herbs below 

Grow green and gay; 

As if to meet thee they did know, 

While I decay. 

Yet can I mark how ftarres above 

Simper and mine, 

As having keyes unto thy love, 

While poor I pine. 

I fent a figh to feek thee out, 

Deep drawn in pain, 
Wing'd like an arrow : but my fcout 

Returns in vain. 



THE CHURCH. 171 

I tun'd another (having (tore) 

Into a grone, 
Becaufc the fearch was dumbe before : 

But all was one. 

Lord, doft thou fome new fabrick mold 

Which favour winnes, 

And keeps thee prefent, leaving th' old 

Unto their finnes ! 

Where is my God ? what hidden place 

Conceals thee ftill ? 

What covert dare eclipfe thy face ? 
Is it thy will ? 

O let not that of any thing : 

Let rather brafte, 

Or fteel, or mountains be thy ring, 

And I will pafTe. 

Thy will fuch an intrenching is, 

As pafleth thought : 

To it all ftrength, all fubtilties 

Are things of nought. 

Thy will fuch a ftrange diftance is, 

As that to it 
Eaft and Weft touch, the poles do kiffe, 

And parallels meet. 

Since then my grief muft be as large 

As is thy fpace, 

Thy diftance from me ; fee my charge, 

Lord, fee my cafe. 



I72 HERBERT S POEMS. 

O take thefe barres, thefe lengths away; 

Turn, and reftore me : 
Be not Almightie, let me fay, 

Againft, but for me. 

When thou doft turn, and wilt be neare ; 

What edge fo keen, 
What point fo piercing can appeare 

To come between ? 

For as thy abfence doth excell 

All diftance known : 

So doth thy nearneffe bear the bell, 

Making two one. 

Grief. 

WHO will give me tears ? Come all ye fprings. 
Dwell in my head and eyes : come, clouds, and 
My grief hath need of all the watry things, [rain : 

That nature hath produc'd. Let ev'ry vein 
Suck up a river to fupply mine eyes, 
My weary weeping eyes too drie for me, 
Unleffe they get new conduits, new fupplies, 
To bear them out, and with my ftate agree. 
What are two mallow foords, two little fpouts 
Of a leffe world r the greater is but fmall, 
A narrow cupboard for my griefs and doubts, 
Which want provifion in the midft of all. 
Verfes, ve are too fine a thing, too wife 
For my rough forrows : ceafe, be dumbe and mute, 
Give up your feet and running to mine eyes, 
And keep your meafures for fome lover's lute, 
Whofe grief allows him mufick and a ryme : 
For mine excludes both meafure, tune, and time. 
Alas, my God ! 



THE CHURCH. 173 



The Crofle. 

WHAT is this ftrange and uncouth thing 
To make me figh, and feek, and faint, and die, 
Untill I had fome place, where I might fing, 

And ferve thee ; and not onely I, 
But all my wealth, and familie might combine 
To fet thy honour up, as our defigne. 

And then when after much delay, 
Much wreftling, many a combate, this deare end, 
So much defir'd, is giv'n, to take away 

My power to ferve thee : to unbend 
All my abilities, my defignes confound, 
And lay my threatnings bleeding on the ground. 

One ague dwelleth in my bones, 
Another in my foul (the memorie 
What I would do for thee, if once my grones 

Could be allow'd for harmonie) 
I am in all a weak difabled thing, 
Save in the fight thereof, where ftrength doth fling. 

Befides, things fort not to my will, 
Ev'n when my will doth ftudie thy renown : 
Thou turneft th' edge of all things on me ftill, 

Taking me up to throw me down : 
So that, ev'n when my hopes feem to be fped, 
I am to grief alive, to them as dead. 

To have my aim, and yet to be 
Farther from it than when I bent my bow \ 



174. Herbert's poems. 

To make my hopes my torture, and the fee 

Of all my woes another wo, 
Is in the midft of delicates to need, 
And ev'n in Paradife to be a weed. 

Ah my deare Father, eafe my fmart ! 
Thefe contrarieties cruih me : thefe croffe actions 
Doe winde a rope about, and cut my heart : 

And yet fince thefe thy contradictions 
Are properly a croffe felt by thy fonne 
With but foure words, my words, Thy will be done. 



The Flower.* 



HOW frefh, O Lord, how fweet and clean 
Are thy returns ! ev'n as the flowers in 
fpring ; 
To which, befides their own demean, 
The late-paft frofts tributes of pleafure bring. 
Grief melts away 
Like fnow in May, 
As if there were no fuch cold thing. 



* " The poem entitled e The Flower' is efpecially affecting, and 
to me fuch a phrafe as * reliih verting,' exprefTes a fmcerity, a reality 
which I would not willingly exchange for the more dignified, ( and 
once more love the mufe.' " — Coleridge to the painter Collins, 
(Life of Collins, i. 147.) In another place he calls it a " delicious 
poem 5" and delicious it is in thought, muiic, and expreflion ; but 
I would not adopt Mr. Coleridge's glofs upon the laft line in the 
firft ftanza, "as if there had been no fuch thing." The poet 
furely intended to exhibit grief, carting off fadnefs, and rejoicing 
in hope, juft as if there were no made and cold in the world to 
darken and chill her again. 



THE CHURCH. I 75 

Who would have thought my fhrivel'd heart 
Could have recovered greennefTe ? It was gone 

Quite under ground ; as flowers depart 
To fee their mother-root, when they have blown - y 
Where they together 
All the hard weather, 
Dead to the world, keep houfe unknown. 

Thefe are thy wonders, Lord of power, 
Killing and quickning, bringing down to hell 

And up to heaven in an houre , 
Making a chiming of a pafling-bell. 
We fay amifTe, 
This or that is : 
Thy word is all, if we could fpell. 

O that I once paft changing were, 

Faft in thy Paradife, where no flower can wither ! 

Many a fpring I fhoot up fair, 
Offring at heav'n, growing and groning thither : 
Nor doth my flower 
Want a fpring-fhowre, 
My finnes and I joining together. 

But while I grow in a ftraight line, 
Still upwards bent, as if heav'n were mine own, 

Thy anger comes, and I decline : 
What froft to that ? what pole is not the zone 
Where all things burn, 
AVhen thou doft turn, 
And the leaft frown of thine is ftiown ? 

And now in age I bud again, 
After fo many deaths I live and write ; 

I once more fmell the dew and rain, 
And relifh verfing : O my onely light, 



176 Herbert's poems. 

It cannot be 
That I am he, 
On whom thy tempefts fell all night. 

Thefe are thy wonders, Lord of love, 
To make us fee we are but flowers that glide 

Which when we once can finde and prove, 
Thou haft a garden for us, where to bide. 
Who would be more, 
Swelling through ftore. 
Forfeit their Paradife by their pride. 



Dotage. 



FALSE glozing* pleafures, cafks of happinefle, 
Foolifh night- fires, womens and childrens wifhes, 
Chafes in Arras, f guilded emptineffe, 
Shadows well mounted, dreams in a career,:): 
Embroider'd lyes, nothing between two dimes \ 
Thefe are the pleafures here. 

True earneft forrows, rooted miferies, 
Anguifh in grain, vexations ripe and blown, 
Sure-footed griefs, folid calamities, 
Plain demonftrations, evident and cleare, 
Fetching their proofs ev'n from the very bone ; 
Thefe are the forrows here. 

But oh the folly of diftracted men, 

Who griefs in earneft, joyes in jeft purfue ; 

* Flattering. f Hunting fcenes embroidered. 

\ The ground on which a race is run, or a combat fought. 



THE CHURCH. I 77 



Preferring, like brute beads, a loathfome den 
Before a court, ev'n that above Co cleare, 
Where are no forrows, but delights more true 
Then miferies are here ! 



The Sonne. 



LET forrain nations of their language boaft, 
What fine varietie each tongue affords : 
1 like our language, as our men and coafr. ; 
Who cannot drefle it well, want wit, not words. 
How neatly do we give one onely name 
To parents iffue and the funnes bright ftarre. 
A fonne is light and fruit ; a fruitfull flame 
Chafing the fathers dimneffe, carried far 
From the firft man in th ? Eaft, to frefh and new 
Weftern difcov'ries of pofteritie. 
So in one word our Lords humilitie 
We turn upon him in a fenfe moft true ; 

For what Chrift once in humbleneiTe began, 
We him in glorie call, The Sonne of Man. 



A true Hymne. 



MY joy, my life, my crown ! 
My heart was meaning all the day, 
Somewhat it fain would fay 
And ftill it runneth mutt'ring up and down 
With only this, My joy, my life, my crown. 

N 



178 Herbert's poems. 

Yet flight not thele few words ; 
If truly faid, they may take part 

Among the beft in art. 
The fineneffe which a hymne or pfalme affords, 
Is, when the foul unto the lines accords. 

He who craves all the minde, 
And all the foul, and ftrength, and time, 

If the words onely ryme, 
Juftly complains, that fomewhat is behinde 
To make his verfe, or write a hymne in kinde. 

Whereas if th' heart be moved, 
Although the verfe be fomewhat fcant, 

God doth fupplie the want. 
As when th' heart fays (fighing to be approved) 
O, could I love ! and flops ; God writeth, Loved. 



The Anfwer. 



MY comforts drop and melt like fnow : 
I make my head, and all the thoughts and ends, 
Which my fierce youth did bandie, fall and flow 
Like leaves about me, or like fummer- friends, 
Flyes of eftates and funne-fhine. But to all, 
Who think me eager, hot, and undertaking, 
But in my profecutions flack and fmall ; 
As a young exhalation, newly waking, 
Scorns his firft bed of dirt, and means the fky; 
But cooling by the way, grows purfie and flow, 
And fettling to a cloud, doth live and die 
In that dark ftate of tears : to all, that fo 

Show me, and fet me, I have one reply, 
Which they uhat know the reft, know more then I. 






THE CHURCH. I 79 



A Dialogue-Anthem. 

Christian, Death. 

Chr. A LAS, poore death ! where is thy glorie ? 

Jfj^ Where is thy famous force, thy ancient fling? 
Dea. Alas, poore mortall, void of ftorie, 

Go fpell and reade how I have kill'd thy King. 
Chr. Poore death ! and who was hurt thereby? 

Thy curfe being laid on him makes thee accurft. 
Dea. Let lofers talk, yet thou fhalt die ; 

Thefe arms fhall crufh thee. 
Chr. Spare not, do thy worft. 

I fhall be one day better then before : 

Thou fo much worfe,that thou fhalt be no more. 



The Water-Courfe. 



THOU who doft dwell and linger here below, 
Since the condition of this world is frail. 
Where of all plants afflictions fooneft grows 
If troubles overtake thee, do not wail : 

C T 'f 

For who can look for leffe, that loveth < - J 

But rather turn the pipe, and waters courfe 
To ferve thy finnes, and furnifh thee with ftore 

N 2 



i8o Herbert's poems. 

Of fov'raigne tears, fpringing from true remorfe : 
That fo in purenefle thou mayft him adore 

Who gives to man, as he fees fit, / Salvation. 
° * I Damnation. 



T 



Self-condemnation. 

*HOU who condemneft Jewifh hate, 
For choofing Barabbas a murderer 
Before the Lord of glorie 3 
Look back upon thine own eftate, 
Call home thine eye (that bufie wanderer) 

That choice may be thy ftorie.* 

He that doth love, and love amiffe 
This worlds delights before true Chriftian joy, 
Hath made a Jewifh choice : 
The world an ancient murderer is -> 
Thoufands of fouls it hath and doth deftroy 
With her enchanting voice. 

He that hath made a forrie wedding 
Between his foul and gold, and hath preferr'd 
Falfe gain before the true, 
Hath done what he condemnes in reading : 
For he hath fold for money his deare Lord, 
And is a Judas-Jew. 

Thus we preventf the la ft great day, 
And judge our felves. That light which fin and paflion 
Did before dimme and choke, 

* Af if he faid: — What the Jrvs did may be told of you; 
your own wicked life, and Jenial of the Saviour being mown in 
the very ftory you condemn. 

f " Go before/' as in the collect, " Prevent us, O Lord." 



THE CHURCH. l8l 

When once thofe fnufFes arc ta'en away, 
Shines bright and cleare, ev'n unto condemnation, 
Without excufe or cloak. 



Bitter-fweet. 



AH, my deare angrie Lord, 
Since thou doft love, yet ftrike ; 
Cafr. down, yet help afford ; 
Sure I will do the like. 

I will complain, yet praife ; 
I will bewail, approve : 
And all my fowre-fweet dayes 
I will lament, and love. 



The Glance, 



WHEN firft thy fweet and gracious eye, 
Vouchfaf 'd ev'n in the midft of youth 
and night 
To look upon me, who before did lie 

Weltering in finne ; 
I felt a fugred ftrange delight, 
Paffing all cordials made by any art, 
Bedew, embalme, and overrunne my heart, 
And take it in. 



182 herbet's poems. 

Since that time many a bitter ftorm 
My foul hath felt, ev'n able to deftroy, 
Had the malicious and ill-meaning harm 
His fwing and fway: 
But ftill thy fweet originall joy, 
Sprung from thine eye 5 did work within my foul, 
And furging griefs, when they grew bold, controll, 
And got the day. 



If thy firft glance fo powerfull be, 
A mirth but open'd, and feal'd up again ; 
What wonders mall we feel, when we (hall fee 
Thy full-ey'd love ! 
When thou {halt look us out of pain, 
And one afpe£t of thine fpend in delight 
More then a thoufand funnes difburfe in light, 
In heav'n above. 



The Twenty-third Pfalme. 

THE God of love my fhepherd is, 
And he that doth me feed : 
W hile he is mine, and I am his, 

What can I want or need ? 

He leads me to the tender graffe, 

Where I both feed and reft ; 

Then to the ftreams that gently paffe : 
In both I have the beft. 



THE CHURCH. 183 

Or if I ftray, he doth convert, 

And bring my minde in frame r 

And all this not for my defert. 

But for his holy name. 

Yea, in deaths fhadie black abode 

Well may I walk, not fear : 
For thou art with me, and thy rod 

To guide, thy ftaffe to bear. 

Nay, thou doft make me fit and dine, 

Ev'n in my enemies fight : 
My head with oyl, my cup with wine 

Runnes over day and night. 

Surely thy fweet and wondrous love 

Shall meafure all my dayes; 
And as it never (hall remove, 

So neither mail my praife. 



Marie Magdalene. 



WHEN bleffed Marie wip'd her Saviours feet, 
(Whofe precepts fhe had trampled on before) 
And wore them for a Jewell on her head, 
Shewing his fteps mould be the ftreet, 
Wherein me thenceforth evermore 
With penfive humbleneffe would live and tread : 

She being ftain'd herfelf, why did me ftrive 
To make him clean, who could not be defiPd ? 



184 Herbert's poems. 

Why kept fhe not her tears for her own faults, 
And not his feet ? Though we could dive 
In tears like feas, our finnes are piPd 

Deeper then they, in words, and works, and thoughts. 

Deare foul, fhe knew who did vouchfafe and deigne 
To bear her filth; and that her fmnes did dafh 
Ev'n God himfelf : wherefore ihe was not loth 

As fhe had brought wherewith to ftain, 

So to bring in wherewith to w T afh : 
And yet in warning one, fhe wafhed both. 



Aaron. 



HOLINESSE on the head 
Light and perfections on the breaft, 
Harmonious bells below raifing the dead 
To leade them unto life and reft. 
Thus are true Aarons dreft. 

Profaneneffe in my head, 
Defects and darkneffe in my breaft, 
A noife of paflions ringing me for dead 
Unto a place where is no reft : 

Poore prieft thus am I dreft, 

Onely another head 
I have, another heart and breaft, 
Another mufick, making live, not dead, 
Without whom I could have no reft : 
In him I am well dreft. 



THE CHURCH. 185 

Chrift is my onely head, 
My alone onely heart and breaft, 
My onely mufick, ftriking me ev'n dead; 
That to the old man I may reft, 

And be in him new dreft. 

So holy in my head, 
Perfect and light in my deare breaft, 
My doctrine tun'd by Chrift, (who is not dead, 
But lives in me while I do reft) 

Come, people ; Aaron's dreft. 



The Odour. 



2 COR. II. 

HOW fweetly doth My Mafter found ! My 
Mafter! 
As Amber-greefe leaves a rich fcent 
U nto the tafter : 
So do thefe words a fweet content, 
An orientall fragrancie, My Mafter. 

With thefe all day I do perfume my minde, 
My mind ev'n thru ft into them both \ 

That I might finde 
What cordials make this curious broth, 

This broth of fmells,that feeds and fats* my minde. 

My Mafter, fhall I fpeak ? O that to thee 

My Servant were a little fo, 
As flefh may be ; 

That thefe two words might creep and grow 
To fome degree of fpicineffe to thee ! 

* Fattens. 



1 86 Herbert's poems. 

Then fhould the Pomander,* which was before 
A fpeaking fweet, mend by reflection, 

And tell me more : 
For pardon of my imperfection 

Would warm and work it fweeter than before. 



For when My Mafter, which alone is fweet, 
And ev'n in my unworthineffe pleafing, 

Shall call and meet, 
My Servant, as thee not difpleafing, 

That call is but the breathing of the fweet. 

This breathing would with gains by fweetning me 
(As fweet things tramck when they meet) 

Return to thee. 
And fo this new commerce and fweet 

Should all my life employ, and bufie me. 



The Foil. 

IF we could fee below 
The fphere of vertue, and each ftiining grace^ 
As plainly as that above doth mow; 
This were the better fkie, the brighter place. 

God hath made ftarres the foil 
To let off vertues ; griefs to fet off finning : 

Yet in this wretched world we toil, 
As if grief were not foul, nor vertue winning. 

* A ball or powder of fweet fubftances. 



THE CHURCH. 187 

The Forerunners. 

THE harbingers are come. See, fee their mark; 
White is their colour, and behold my head. 
But muft they have my brain ? muft they difpark* 
Thofe fparkling notions, which therein were bred ? 

Muft dulnefle turn me to a clod ? 
Yet have they left me, Thou art ftill my God. 

Good men ye be, to leave me my beft room, 
Ev'n all my heart, and what is lodged there : 
I paffe not, I, what of the reft become, 
So, Thou art ftill my God, be out of fear. 

He will be pleafed with that dittie ; 
And if I pleafe him, I write fine and wittie. 

Farewell fweet phrafes, lovely metaphors : 
But will ye leave me thus ? when ye before 
Of ftews and brothels onely knew the doores, 
Then did I wafh you with my tears, and more, 

Brought you to Church well dreft and clad : 
My God muft have my beft, ev'n all I had. 

Lovely enchanting language, fugar-cane, 
Hony of rofes, whither wilt thou flie ? 
Hath fome fond lover tie'd thee to thy bane ? 
And wilt thou leave the Church, and love a ftie ? 

Fie, thou wilt foil thy broider'd coat, 
And hurt thyfelf, and him that fings the note. 

Let foolifh lovers, if they will love dung, 
With canvas, not with arras clothe their fliame : 

* To throw open a park. 



05 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Let follie fpeak in her own native tongue. 
True beautie dwells on high : ours is a flame 

But borrowed thence to light us thither. 
Beautie and beauteous words mould go together. 

Yet if you go, I paffe not; take your way: 
For, Thou art ftill my God, is all that ye 
Perhaps with more embellifhment can fay. 
Go birds of fpring; let winter have his fee; 

Let a bleak paleneffe chalk the doore, 
So all within be livelier then before. 



The Rofe. 



PRESSE me not to take more pleafure 
In this world of fugred lies, 
And to ufe a larger meafure 

Than my ftricT:, yet welcome fize. 
Firft, there is no pleafure here : 

Colour'd griefs indeed there are, 
Blufhing woes, that look as cleare, 
As if they could beautie fpare. 

Or if fuch deceits there be, 

Such delights I meant to fay; 

There are no fuch things to me, 

Who have pafFd my right away. 

But I will not much oppofe 

Unto what you now advife : 

Onely take this gentle rofe, 

And therein my anfwer lies. 



THE CHURCH. 1 89 

What is fairer then a rofe ? 

What is fweeter? yet it purgeth. 
Purgings enmitie difclofe, 

Enmitie forbearance urgeth. 

If then all that worldlings prize 

Be contracted to a rofe; 
Sweetly there indeed it lies, 

But it biteth in the clofe. 

So this flower doth judge and fentence 

Worldly joyes to be a fcourge : 
For they all produce repentance, 

And repentance is a purge. 

But I health, not phyfick choofe : 

Onely though I you oppofe, 
Say that fairly I refufe, 

For my anfwer is a rofe. 



Difcipline. 



THROW away thy rod, 
Throw away thy wrath : 

my God, 
Take the gentle path. 

For my hearts defire 
Unto thine is bent : 

1 afpire 
To a full confent. 



I9O HERBERTS POEMS. 

Not a word or look 
I affecl: to own, 

But by book, 
And thy book alone. 



Though I fail, I weep : 
Though I halt in pace, 

Yet I creep 
To the throne of grace. 

Then let wrath remove ; 
Love will do the deed : 

For with love 
Stonie hearts will bleed. 



Love is fwift of foot ; 
Love's a man of warre, 

And can (hoot, 
And can hit from farre. 



Who can fcape his bow ? 
That which wrought on thee, 

Brought thee low, 
Needs muft work on me. 

Throw away thy rod ; 
Though man frailties hath, 

Thou art God : 
Throw away thy wrath. 



THE CHURCH. 



The Invitation. 



COME ye hither all, whofe tafte 
Is your wafte ; 
Save your coft, and mend your fare. 
God is here prepar'd and dreft, 

And the feaft, 
God, in whom all dainties are. 

Come ye hither all, whom wine 

Doth define,* 

Naming you not to your good : 

Weep what ye have drunk amide, 

And drink this, 

Which before ye drink is bloud. 

Come ye hither all, whom pain 

Doth arraigne, 

Bringing all your finnes to fight : 

Tafte and fear not : God is here 

In this cheer, 

And on finne doth caft the fright. 

Come ye hither all, whom joy 

Doth deftroy, 

While ye graze without your bounds : 

Here is joy that drowneth quite 

Your delight, 

As a floud the lower grounds. 



* Give a character by qualities. 



i 9 i 



I92 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Come ye hither all, v/hofe love 

Is your dove, 

And exalts vou to the fide : 
j 

Here is love, which, having breath 

Ev'n in death, 
After death can never die. 

Lord I have invited all, 

And I fhal! 
Still invite, ftill call to thee : 
For it feems but juft and right 

In my fight, 
Where is all, there all mould be. 



The Banquet. 



WELCOME fvveet and facred cheer, 
Welcome deare ; 
With me, in me, live and dwell : 
For thy neatnefTe * paffeth fight, 

Thy delight 
PafTeth tongue to tafte or tell. 

O what fweetneffe from the bowl 
Fills my foul, 

Such as is, and makes divine ! 

Is fome ftarre (fled from the fphere) 
Melted there, 

As we fugar melt in wine ? 

* Milton has the word in his fonnet to Mr. Lawrence : — 
" What neat repaft fhall feaft us light and choice, 
Of Attic tafte." 
And in L' Allegro (p. %6) :— 

M Which the neat-handed Phyllis drefles." 



THE CHURCH. I93 

Or hath fweetneffe in the bread 

Made a head 
To fubdue the fmell of finne, 
Flowers, and gummes, and powders giving 

All their living, 
Left the enemie fhould winne ? 

DoubtlefTe neither ftarre nor flower 
Hath the power 

Such a fweetneffe to impart : 

Onely Cod, who gives perfumes, 
Flefh affumes, 

And with it perfumes my heart. 

But as Pomanders and wood 

Still are good, 
Yet being bruif 'd are better fcented ; 
God, to fhow how farre his love 

Could improve, 
Here, as broken, is prefented. 

When I had forgot my birth, 

And on earth 
In delights of earth was drown'd ; 
God took bloud, and needs would be 

Spilt with me, 
And fo found me on the ground. 

Having raif 'd me to look up, 

In a cup 
Sweetly he doth meet my tafte. 
But I ftill being low and fhort, 

Farre from court, 
Wine becomes a wing at laft. 
o 



194 HERBERT S POEMS. 

For with it alone I flie 

To the fkie : 

Where I wipe mine eyes, and fee 

What I feek for, what I fue ; 

Him I view 

Who hath done fo much for me. 

Let the wonder of this pitie 

Be my dittie, 

And take up my lines and life : 

Hearken under pain of death, 

Hands and breath, 

Strive in this, and love the ftrife. 



The Poiie.* 



LET wits conteft, 
And with their words and pofies windows fill 
Lefle than the leaft 
Of all thy mercies, is my pofie ftill. 

This on my ring, 
This by my picture, in my book I write : 

Whether I fing, 
Or fay, or dictate, this is my delight. 

Invention reft ; 
Comparifons go play ; wit ufe thy will : 

Lefle than the leaft 
Of all God's mercies, is my pofie ftill. 

* The motto. 



THE CHURCH. 195 



A Parodie. 



SOULS joy, when tnou art gone 
And I alone, 
Which cannot be, 
Becaufe thou doft abide with me, 
And I depend on thee y 

Yet when thou doft fuppreffe 

The cheerfulnefTe 

Of thy abode, 
And in my powers not ftirre abroad, 
But leave me to my load : 

O what a damp and fhade 

Doth me invade ' 

No ftormie night 
Can (o afflict, or Co affright, 
As thy eclipfed light. 

Ah Lord ! do not withdraw, 

Left want of aw 

Make finne appeare ; 
And when thou doft but fhine lefTe cleare, 
Say, that thou art not here. 

And then what life I have, 

While Sinne doth rave, 
And falfly boaft, 
That I may feek, but thou art loft; 
Thou and alone thou know'ft. 
o 2 



196 Herbert's poems. 

O what a deadly cold 

Doth me infold ! 

I half beleeve, 
That Sinne fays true : but while I grieve 
Thou com'ft and doft relieve. 




The Elixer. 



TEACH me, my God and King, 
In all things thee to fee, 
And what I do in any thing, 
To do it as for thee : 

Not rudely, as a beaft, 
To runne into an action ; 
But ftill to make thee prepofTeft, 
And give it his perfection. 

A man that looks on glafTe, 
On it may flay his eye ; 
Or if he pleafeth, through it paffe, 
And then the heav'n efpie. 

All may of thee partake : 
Nothing can be fo mean, 
Which with his tincture (for thy fake) 
Will not grow bright and clean. 

A fervant with this claufe 

Makes drudgery divine : 
Who fweeps a room, as for thy laws, 
Makes that and th' action fine. 



THE CHURCH. 19- 

This is the famous ftone 
That turneth all to gold : 
For that which God doth touch and own 
Cannot for leffe be told. 



A Wreath. 

A WREATHED garland of deferved praife, 
Of praife deferved, unto thee I give, 
J give to thee, who knoweft all my wayes, 
My crooked winding wayes, wherein I live, 
Wherein I die, not live ; for life is ftraight, 
Straight as a line, and ever tends to thee, 
To thee, who art more farre above deceit, 
Than deceit feems above fimplicitie. 
Give me fimplicitie, that I may live, 
So live and like, that I may know thy wayes, 
Know them and practife them : then (hall I give 
For this poore wreath, give thee a crown of praife. 



Death. 



DEATH, thou waft once an uncouth hideous 
Nothing but bones, [thing, 

The fad effect of ladder grones : 
Thy mouth was open, but thou couldft not fing. 

For we confider'd thee as at fome fix 

Or ten years hence, 
After the loffe of life and knk^ 
Flefh being turn'd to duft, and bones to fticks. 



ig8 Herbert's poems. 

We lookt on this fide of thee, {hooting fhort ; 
Where we did finde 
The fliels of fledge fouls left behinde, 
Dry duft, which fheds no tears, but may extort. 

But fince our Saviours death did put fome bloud 
Into thy face ; 
Thou art grown fair and full of grace, 
Much in requeft, much fought for, as a good. 

For we do now behold thee gay and glad, 
As at dooms-day ; 
When fouls mall wear their new aray. 
And all thy bones with beautie (hall be clad. 

Therefore we can go die as fleep, and truft 
Half that we have 
Unto an honeft faithfull grave ; 
Making our pillows either down, or duft. 



Dooms-day. 



c 



<OME away, 
Make no delay. 
Summon all the duft to rife, 
Till it ftirre, and rubbe the eyes ; 
While this member jogs the other, 
Each one whifpring, Live you, brother ? 

Come away, 
Make this the day. 
Duft, alas, no mufick feels, 
But thy trumpet : then it kneels, 



A 



THE CHURCH. igg 

As peculiar notes and drains 
Cure Tarantulaes raging pains. 

Come away, 
O make no ftay ! 
Let the graves make their confeffion, 
Left at length they plead pofleflion : 
Flemes ftubbornnefle may have 
Read that leflbn to the grave. 

Come away, 
Thy flock doth ilray. 
Some to the windes their bodie lend, 
And in them may drown a friend : 
Some in noifome vapours grow 
To a plague and publick wo. 

Come away, 
Help our decay. 
Man is out of order hurl'd, 
ParceFd out to all the world. 
Lord, thy broken confort raife, 
And the mufick fhall be praife. 



Judgement. 



ALMIGHTIE Judge, how fhall poore wretches 
Thy dreadfull look, [brook 

Able a heart of iron to appall, 

When thou (halt call 
For ev'ry mans peculiar book ? 

What others mean to do, I know not well ; 
Yet I heare tell, 



200 HERBERT S POEMS. 

That fome will turn thee to fome leaves therein 
So void of finne, 
That they in merit mail excell. 

But I refolve, when thou malt call for mine, 

That to decline, 
And thruft a Teftament into thy hand : 

Let that be fcann'd. 
There thou fhalt finde my faults are thine. 



Heaven. 

OWHO will fhow me thofe delights on high ? 
Echo. r 

Thou Echo, thou art mortall, all men know. 

Echo. No. 

Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves ? 

Echo. Leaves. 

And are there any leaves, that ftill abide ? 

Echo. Bide. 

What leaves are they ? impart the matter wholly. 

Echo. Holy. 

Are holy leaves the Echo then of bliffe ? 

Echo. Yes. 

Then tell me, what is that fupreme delight ? 

Echo. Light. 

Light to the minde : what mail the will enjoy ? 

Echo. "Joy. 

But are there cares and bufineffe with the pleafure ? 

Echo. Leifure. 

Light, joy, and leifure ; but (hall they perfever ? 

Echo. Ever. 



THE CHURCH. 201 



Love. 

LOVE bade me welcome: yet my foul drew back, 
Guiltie of duft and finne. 
But quick-ey'd Love, obferving me grow flack 

From my firft entrance in, 
Drew nearer to me, fweetly quefrioning, 
If I lack'd any thing. 

A gueft, I anfwer'd, worthy to be here : 
Love faid, you fhall be he. 

I the unkinde, ungratefull ? Ah my deare, 
I cannot look on thee. 

Love took my hand, and fmiling did reply, 
Who made the eyes but I ? 

Truth Lord, but I have marr'd them : let my lhame 
Go where it doth deferve. 

And know you not, fayes Love, who bore the blame ? 
My deare, then I will ferve. 

You muft fit down, fayes Love, and tafte my meat : 
So I did fit and eat. 



GLORIE BE TO GOD ON HIGH, AND ON EARTH 
PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN. 






tV] ' 



202 



THE CHURCH MILITANT. 



ALMIGHTIE Lord, who from thy glorious throne 
Seeft and ruleft all things ev'n as one : 
The final] eft ant or atome knows thy power, 
Known alfo to each minute of an houre : 
Much more do Common-weals acknowledge thee, 
And wrap their policies in thy decree, 
Complying with thy counfels, doing nought 
Which doth not meet with an eternall thought. 
But above all, thy Church and Spoufe doth prove 
Not the decrees of power, but bands of love. 
Early didft thou arife to plant this vine, 
Which might the more indeare it to be thine. 
Spices come from the Eaft ; fo did thy Spoufe, 
Trimme* as the light, fweet as the laden boughs 
Of Noahs fhadie vine, chafte as the dove, 
Prepar'd and fitted to receive thy love. 
The courfe was weftward, that the funne might light 
As well our underftanding, as our fight. 

* A writer (Adversus Impia, 1670) fays: "The churches 
progrefs is a marter-piece, limn'd to the life 5" and B. Oley juftly 
remarks : " He that reads Mr. Herbert's Poems attendingiy, mail 
find not only the excellencies of Scripture, divinity, and choice 
palTages of the Fathers bound up in metre ; but the doclrine of 
Rome alfo finely and ftrongly confuted, as in the poems, " To 
Saints and Angels, 1 * The Britifh Church,' * Church Militant,' 
&c." — Barnabas Oley, " Prefatory View," 1652. 



THE CHURCH MILITANT. 203 

Where th' Ark did reft, there Abraham began 
To bring the other Ark from Canaan. 
Mofes purfu'd this : but King Solomon 
Finifh'd and fixt the old religion. 
When it grew loofe, the Jews did hope in vain 
By nailing Chrift to faften it again. 
But to the Gentiles he bore croffe and all, 
Rending with earthquakes the partition-wall. 
Onely whereas the Ark in glorie (hone, 
Now with the croffe, as with a ftaffe, alone, 
Religion, like a pilgrime, weftward bent, 
Knocking at all doores, ever as me went. 
Yet as the funne, though forward be his flight, 
Liftens behinde him, and allows fome light, 
Till all depart : fo went the Church her way, 
Letting, while one foot ftept, the other ftay 
Among the eaftern nations for a time, 
Till both removed to the weftern clime. 
To Egypt firft fhe came, where they did prove 
Wonders of anger once, but now of love. 
The ten Commandments there did flourifh more 
Than the ten bitter plagues had done before. 
Holy Macarius and great Anthonie 
Made Pharaoh Mofes, changing th' hiftorie. 
Gofhen was darkneffe, Egypt full of lights, 
Nilus for monfters brought forth Ifraelites. 
Such power hath mightie Baptifme to produce, 
For things miffhapen, things of higheft ufe. 
How deare to me, O God, thy counfels are ! 

Who may with thee compare ? 
Religion thence fled into Greece, where arts 
Gave her the higheft place in all mens hearts. 
Learning was pofd, Philofophie was fet, 
Sophifters taken in a fifhers net. 
Plato and Ariftotle were at a loffe, 
And wheel' d about again to fpell Chrift -Croffe. 



204 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Prayers ch^Pd fyllogifmes into their den, 

And Ergo was tranfform'd into Amen,. 

Though Greece took horfe as foon as Egypt did, 

And Rome as both ; yet Egypt fafter rid, 

And fpent her period and prefixed time 

Before the other. Greece being paft her prime, 

Religion went to Rome, fubduing thofe, 

Who, that they might fubdue, made all their foes. 

The Warrier his deere fkarres no more refounds, 

But feems to yeeld Chrift hath the greater wounds ; 

Wounds willingly endur'd to work his blifTe, 

Who by an ambuih loft his Paradife. 

The great heart ftoops, and taketh from the duft 

A fad repentance, not the fpoils of luft : 

Quitting his fpear, left it mould pierce again 

Him in his members, who for him was flain. 

The Shepherds hook grew to a fcepter here, 

Giving new names and numbers to the yeare. 

But th' Empire dwelt in Greece, to comfort them, 

Who were cut mort in Alexanders ftemme. 

In both of thefe ProwefTe and Arts did tame 

And tune mens hearts againft the Gofpel came : 

Which ufing, and not fearing fkill in th' one, 

Or ftrength in th' other, did erect her throne, 

Many a rent and ftruggling th' Empire knew, 

(As dying things are wont,) untill it flew 

At length to Germanie, ftill weftward bending, 

And there the Churches feftivall attending : 

That as before Empire and Arts made way, 

(For no leffe Harbingers would ferve then they) 

So they might ftill, and point us out the place, 

Where firft the Church fhould raife her down-caft face. 

Strength levels grounds, Art makes a garden there ; 

Then fhowres Religion, and makes all to bear. 

Spain in the Empire fhar'd with Germanie, 

But England in the higher vietorie ; 



THE CHURCH MILITANT. 205 

Giving the Church a crown to keep her ftate, 
And not go leffe than fhe had done of late. 
Conftantines Britifh line meant this of old, 
And did this myfterie wrap up and fold 
Within a meet of paper, which was rent 
From times great Chronicle, and hither fent. 
Thus both the Church and Sunne together ran 
Unto the fartheft old meridian. 
How deare to me, O God, thy counfels are ! 

Who may with thee compare 
Much about one and the fame time and place, 
Both where and when the Church began her race, 
Sinne did fet out of Eaftern Babylon, 
And traveird weftward alfo : journeying on 
He chid the Church away, where e're he came, 
Breaking her peace, and tainting her good name. 
At firft he got to Egypt, and did fow 
Gardens of gods, which ev'ry yeare did grow, 
Frefh and fine deities. They were at great coft, 
Who for a god clearely a fallet loft. 
Ah, what a thing is man devoid of grace, 
Adoring garlick with an humble face, 
Begging his food of that which he may eat, 
Starving the v/hile he worfhippeth his meat 
Who makes a root his god, how low is he, 
If God and man be fever'd infinitely ! 
What wretchednefie can give him any room, 
Whofe houfe is foul, while he adores his broom ? 
None will beleeve this now, though money be 
In us the fame tranfplanted foolerie. 
Thus Sinne in Egypt fneaked for a while ; 
His higheft was an ox or crocodile, 
And fuch poore game. Thence he to Greece doth pafle, 
And being craftier much then Goodneffe was, 
He left behinde him garrifons of finnes, 
To make good that which ev'ry day he winnes. 



206 Herbert's poems. 

Here Sinne took heart, and for a garden-bed 

Rich fhrines and oracles he purchafed : 

He grew a gallant, and would needs foretell 

As well what mould befall, as what befell. 

Nay, he became a poet, and would ferve 

His pills of fublimate in that conferve. 

The v/orld came both with hands and purfes full 

To this great lotterie, and all would pull. 

But all was glorious cheating, brave deceit, 

Where fome poore truths were muffled for a bait 

To credit him, and to difcredit thofe, 

Who after him mould braver truths difclofe. 

From Greece he went to Rome : and as before 

He was a God, now he's an Emperour. 

Nero and others lodg'd him bravely there, 

Put him in truft to rule the Romane fphere. 

Glorie was his chief inftrument of old : 

Pleafure fucceeded ftraight, when that grew cold : 

Which foon was blown to fuch a mightie flame, 

That though our Saviour did deftroy the game, 

Difparking oracles, and all their treafure, 

Setting affliction to encounter pleafure ; 

Yet did a rogue with hope of carnall joy, 

Cheat the moft fubtill nations. Who fo coy, 

So trimme, as Greece and Egypt ? yet their hearts 

Are given over, for their curious arts, 

To fuch Mahometan ftupidities, 

As the eld heathen would deem prodigies. 

How deare to me, O God, thy counfels are ! 

Who may thee compare ? 
Onely the Weft and Rome do keep them free 
From this contagious infidelitie. 
And this is all the Rock, whereof they boaft, 
As Rome will one day finde unto her coft. 
Sinne being not able to extirpate quite 
The Churches here, bravely refolv'd one night 






THE CHURCH MILITANT. 207 

To be a Church-man too, and wear a Mitre : 
The old debauched ruffian would turn writer. 
I faw him in his ftudie, where he fate 
Bufie in controverfies fprung of late. 
A gown and pen became him wondrous well : 
His grave afpefl: had more of heav'n then hell : 
Onely there was a handfome picture by, 
To which he lent a corner of his eye. 
As Sinne in Greece a Prophet was before, 
And in old Rome a mightie Emperour ; 
So now being Prieft he plainly did profelTe 
To make a jeft of Chrifts three offices ; 
The rather fince his fcatter'd jugglings were 
United now in one both time and fphere. 
From Egypt he took pettie deities, 
From Greece oracular infallibilities, 
And from old Rome the libertie of pleafure, 
By free difpenfings of the Churches treafure. 
Then in memoriall of his ancient throne, 
He did furname his palace, Babylon. 
Yet that he might the better gain all nations, 
And make that name good by their tranfmigrations •, 
From all thefe places, but at divers times, 
He took fine vizards to conceal his crimes : 
From Egypt Anchorifme and retiredneffe, 
Learning from Greece, from old Rome ftatelinefs ; 
And blending thefe, he carri'd all mens eyes, 
While Truth fat by, counting his victories : 
Whereby he grew apace and fcorn'd to ufe 
Such force as once did captivate the Jews ; 
But did bewitch, and finally work each nation 
Into a voluntarie tranfmigration. 
All pofte to Rome : Princes fubmit their necks 
Either t' his publick foot, or private tricks. 
It did not fit his gravitie to ilirre, 
Nor his long journey, nor his gout and furre : 



208 Herbert's poems. 

Therefore he fent out able minifters, 
Statefmen within, without doores cloifterers ; 
Who without fpear, or fword, or other drumme, 
Than what was in their tongue, did overcome ; 
And having conquer'd, did fo ftrangely rule, 
That the whole world did feem but the Popes mule. 
As new and old Rome did one Empire twift ; 
So both together are one Antichrift : 
Yet with two faces, as their Janus was, 
Being in this their old crackt looking-glaffe. 
How deare to me, O God, thy counfels are ! 
Who may with thee compare ? 
Thus Sinne triumphs in Weftern Babylon ; 
Yet not as Sinne, but as Religion. 
Of his two thrones he made the latter beft, 
And to defray his journey from the eaft. 
Old and new Babylon are to hell and night, 
As is the moon and funne to heav'n and light. 
When th' one did fet, the other did take place, 
Confronting equally the law and grace. 
They are hells land-marks, Satans double creft : 
They are Sinnes nipples, feeding th ? eaft and weft. 
But as in vice the copie ftill exceeds 
The pattern, but not fo in vertuous deeds : 
So though Sinne made his latter feat the better, 
The latter Church is to the firft a debter. 
The fecond Temple could not reach the firft : 
And the late reformation never durft 
Compare, with ancient times and purer yeares ; 
But in the Jews and us deferveth tears. 
Nay, it (hall ev'ry yeare decreafe and fade ; 
Till fuch a darkneffe do the world invade 
At Chrifts laft coming, as his firft did finde : 
Yet muft there fuch proportions be aflign'd 
To thefe diminiftiings, as is between 
The fpacious world and Jurie to be feen. 



THE CHURCH MILITANT. 209 

Religion flands on tip-toe in our land,* 

Readie to pafTe to the American ftrand. 

When height of malice, and prodigious lufts, 

Impudent finning, witchcrafts, and diftrufts, 

(The marks of future bane,) mail fill our cup 

Unto the brimme, and make our meafure up ; 

When Sein fhall fwallow Tiber, and the Thames 

By letting in them both, pollutes her ftreams : 

When Italie of us fhall have her will, 

And all her calendar of finnes fulfill ; 

Whereby one may foretell, what finnes next yeare 

Shall both in France and England domineer : 

Then mall Religion to America flee : 

They have their times of Gofpel, ev'n as we. 

My God, thou doft prepare for them a way, 

By carrying firft their gold from them away: 

For gold and grace did never yet agree : 

Religion alwaies fides with povertie. 

We think we rob them, but we think amiffe : 

We are more poore, and they more rich by this. 

Thou wilt revenge their quarrell, making grace 

To pay our debts, and leave our ancient place 

To go to them, while that, which now their nation 

But lends to us, fhall be our defolation. 

Yet as the Church fhall thither weftward flie, 

So Sinne fhall trace and dog her inftantly: 



* " When Mr. Ferrar fent this work to Cambridge to be 
licenfed for the prefs, the Vice-Chancellor would by no means 
allow the two fo much noted veries, ' Religion ltands on tip- toe, 1 
&c, to be printed 5 and Mr. Ferrar would by no means allow the 
book to be printed, and want thern 5 but after fometime, and 
fume arguments for and againft, theic being made public, the 
Vice-Chancellor laid, ' I knew Mr. Herbert well, and know that 
he had many heavenly {peculations, and was a Divine poet 5 but 
I hope the world will not take him to be an inipired prophet, and 
therefore I licenfe the whole book." — Isaak Walton. 



210 HERBERTS POEMS. 

They have their period alfo and fet times 

Both for their vertuous actions, and their crimes. 

And where of old the Empire and the Arts 

Ufher'd the Gofpel ever in mens hearts, 

Spain hath done one ; when Arts perform the other, 

The Church mail come, and Sinne the Church mall 

fmother : 
That when they have accomplished the round, 
And met in th' eaft their firft and ancient found, 
Judgement may meet them both, and fearch them 

round. 
Thus do both lights, as well in Church as Sunne, 
Light one another, and together runne. 
Thus alfo Sinne and Darkneffe follow ftill 
The Church and Sunne with all their power and fkill. 
But as the Sunne ftill goes both weft and eaft : 
So alfo did the Church by going weft 
Still eaftward go ; becaufe it drew more neare 
To time and place, where judgement fhall appeare. 
How deare to me, O God, thy counfels are ! 
Who may with thee compare ? 



L'Envoy. 

KING of glorie, King of peace, 
With the one make warre to ceafe ; 
With the other blefle thy fheep, 
Thee to love, in thee to fleep. 
Let not Sinne devoure thy fold, 
Bragging that thy bloud is cold ; 
That thy death is alfo dead, 
While his conquefts dayly fpread ; 



THE CHURCH MILITANT. 21 I 

That thy flefh hath loft his food, 
And thy Croffe is common wood. 
Choke him, let him fay no more, 
But referve his breath in ftore, 
Till thy conqueft and his fall 
Make his fighs to ufe it all ; 
And then bargain with the winde 
To difcharge what is behinde. 



Bleffed be God alone, 
Thrice bleffed Three in One 



r 2 






MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



A Sonnet. 



SENT BY GEORGE HERBERT TO HIS MOTHER AS A 
NEW YEAR'S GIFT FROM CAMBRIDGE. 

MY God, where is that ancient heat towards thee, 
Wherewith whole fhoals of martyrs once did 
burn, 
Befides their other flames ? Doth poetrie 

Wear Venus' liverie ? onely ferve her turn ? 
Why are not fonnets made of thee ? and layes 

Upon thine altar burnt ? Cannot thy love 
Heighten a fpirit to found out thy praife 

As 'well as any me ? Cannot thy Dove 
Outftrip their Cupid eafilie in flight ? 

Or, fince thy wayes are deep, and ftill the fame, 

Will not a verfe runne fmooth that bears thy name ! 
Why doth that fire, which by thy power and might 

Each breaft does feel, no braver fuel choofe 

Then that, which one day, worms may chance refufe. 
Sure Lord, there is enough in thee to drie 

Oceans of ink ; for, as the Deluge did 
Cover the Earth, fo doth thy Majeftie : 

Each cloud diftills thy praife, and doth forbid 



MISCELLANEOUS. 213 

Poets to turn it to another ufe. 

Rofes and lilies (peak thee ; and to make 
A pair of cheeks of them, is thy abufe. 

Why mould I womens eyes for cryftal take ? 
Such poor invention burns in their low minde 

Whofe fire is wild, and doth not upward go 

To praife, and on thee, Lord, fome ink befrow. 
Open the bones, and you mail nothing finde 
In the heft face but filth ; when Lord, in thee 
The beauty lies in the difcoverie. 



Infcription* 



IN THE PARSONAGE, BEMERTON. 
TO MY SUCCESSOR. 

IF thou chance for to find 
A new Houfe to thy mind 
And built without thy Coft : 
Be good to the Poor, 
As God gives thee ftore, 
And then, my Labours not loft. 



On Lord Danvers. + 

QACRED marble, fafely keep 

j^ His duft, who under thee muft fleep, 



* This infeription is, I believe, not now to be found at Be- 
in erton. 

f When Herbert fought change of air for his declining health, 
"his remove was to Dauntiey in Wiltfhire, a noble hou.e which 



214 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Until the yeares again reftore 

Their dead, and time fhall be no more. 

Mean while, if he (which all things wears), 

Does ruin thee, or if thy tears 

Are fried for him ; diffolve thy frame, 

Thou art requited : for his fame, 

His vertue, and his worth fhall be 

Another monument to thee. 



■ftands in a choice air ; in which Lord Danvers, (created Earl of 
Danby by Charles I.) allowed him fuch an apartment as might 
beft iuit with his accommodation and liking." Lord Danvers 
died in 1673, thus outliving his p^negyrift more than forty years. 






A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 



OR 



THE COUNTRY PARSON, 

HIS CHARACTER, AND RULE OF HOLY LIFE. 
[FIRST PRINTED IN 1652.] 



The Author to the Reader. 



BEING defirous (through the Mercy of God) to 
pleafe Him, for whom I am, and live, and who 
giveth me my Defires and Performances ; and con- 
sidering with myfelf, That the way to pleafe him, is to 
feed my Flock diligently and faithfully, fince our Saviour 
hath made that the argument of a Paftor's love, I have 
refolved to fet down the Form and Character of a true 
Paftor, that I may have a Mark to aim at : which alfo 
I will fet as high as I can, fince he moots higher that 
threatens the Moon, than he that aims at a Tree. Not 
that I think, if a man do not all which is here expreffed, 
he prefently fins, and difpleafes God, but that it is a 
good ftrife to go as far as we can in pleafing him, who 
hath done fo much for us. The Lord profper the in- 
tention to myfelf, and others, who may not defpife my 
poor labours, but add to thofe points which I have ob- 
ferved, until the Book grow to a complete Paftoral. 

Geo. Herbert. 
1632. 



PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 



Chap. I. 



OF A PASTOR. 

A PASTOR is the Deputy of Chrift for the re- 
ducing of Man to the Obedience of God. This 
definition is evident, and contains the direct fteps of 
Paftoral Duty and Authority. For firft, Man fell from 
God by Difobedience. Secondly, Chrift is the glorious 
inftrument of God for the revoking of Man. Thirdly, 
Chrift being not to continue on earth, but after he had 
fulfilled the work of Reconciliation, to be received up 
into heaven, he conftituted Deputies in his place, and 
thefe are Priefts. And therefore St. Paul in the be- 
ginning of his Epiftles, profefleth this : and in the firft 
to the Coloflians* plainly avoucheth that he fills up that 
which is behind of the afflictions of Chrift in his flefh, 
for his Body's fake, which is the church, wherein is con- 
tained the complete definition of a Minifter. Out of 
this Charter of the Priefthood may be plainly gathered 

* Chap. i. 24. 



2i 8 Herbert's prose works. 

both the Dignity thereof, and the Duty: The Dignity,* 
in that a Prieft may do that which Chrift did, and by 
his authority, and as his Vicegerent. The Duty, in that 
a Prieft is to do that which Chrift did, and after his 
manner, both for Doctrine and Life. 



Chap. II. 

THEIR DIVERSITIES. 

OF Paftors (intending mine own Nation only, and 
alfo therein fetting afide the Reverend Prelates of 
the Church, to whom this difcourfe arifeth not) fome 
live in the univerfities, fome in Noble houfes, fome in 
Parifhes refiding on their Cures. Of thofe that live in 
the Univerfities, fome live there in office, whofe rule 
is that of the Apoftle : Romans, xii. 6. " Having 
gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, 
whether prophecy, let us prophefy according to the 
proportion of faith ; or miniftry, let us wait on our 
miniftering ; or he that teacheth, on teaching, &c, 
he that ruleth let him do it with diligence, &c." 
Some in a preparatory way, whofe aim and labour muft 
be not only to get knowledge, but to fubdue and 
mortify all lufts and affections : and not to think, that 
when they have read the fathers, or Schoolmen, a 

* " To a court-friend who diffuaded Herbert from entering into 
facred orders, as too mean an employment, and too much below 
his birth, he replied : — i It hath been formerly adjudged that the 
domeftic fervants of the King of Heaven mould be of the nobleft 
furniture on earth ; and though the iniquities of the late times 
have made clergymen meanly valued, and the facred name of 
prieft contemptible, yet I will labour to make it honourable, by 
confecrating all my learning, and all my poor ability, to advance 
the glory of that God that gave them.' " — Isaak Walton. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 2IO, 

Minifter is made, and the thing done. The greateft 
and hardeft preparation is within : For unto the 
godly, faith God, " Why doft thou preach my laws, 
and takeft my covenant in thy mouth ?" Pfalm i. 16. 
Thofe that live in Noble Houfes are called Chaplains, 
whofe duty and obligation being the fame to the Houfes 
they live in, as a Parfon's to his Parifh, in defcribing 
the one (which is indeed the bent of my Difcourfe) 
the other will be manifeft. Let not Chaplains think 
themfelves fo free, as many of them do, and becaufe 
they have different Names, think their Office differ- 
ent. Doubtlefs they are Parfons of the families they 
live in, and are entertained to that end, either by 
an open, or implicit Covenant. Before they are in 
Orders, they may be received for Companions, or 
difcourfers ; but after a man is once Minifter, he 
cannot agree to come into any houfe, where he fhall 
not exercife what he is, unlefs he forfake his plough, 
and look back. Wherefore they are not to be over- 
fubmiffive, and bafe, but to keep up with the Lord 
and Lady of the houfe, and to preferve a boldnefs with 
them and all, even fo far as reproof to their very face, 
when occafion calls, but feafonably and difcreetly. 
They who do not thus, while they remember their 
earthly lord, do much forget their heavenly ; they 
wrong the Priefthood, neglect their duty, and fhall be 
fo far from that which they feek with their over- 
fubmiflivenefs, and cringing, that they fhall ever be 
defpifed.* They who for the hope of promotion 

* " If it be objected that the poverty of fome of the clergy 
forces them to fupprefs their fentiments in fome things, and to 
iuffer whatever an encroaching temper fhall think fit to put upon 
them, — to this I arifwer : that the temptation to this fin ought to 
have been prevented before their going into holy orders ; for 
thofe who cannot be fupplied with a competent fortune by them- 
felves, their relations, or at leaft by fome creditable independent 



220 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

neglect any neceffary admonition, or reproof, fell 
(with Judas) their Lord and Mailer. 



Chap. III. 

THE PARSON'S LIFE. 

THE Country Parfon is exceeding exact in his Life, 
being holy, juft, prudent, temperate, bold, grave, 
in all his ways. And becaufe the two higheft points 
of Life, wherein a Chriftian is moft feen, are Patience, 
and Mortification ; Patience in regard of afflictions, 
Mortification in regard of lufts and affections, and the 
ftupifying and deading of all the clamorous powers of 
the foul, therefore he hath thoroughly ftudied thefe, 
that he may be an abfolute Mafter and Commander of 
himfelf, for all the purpofes which God hath ordained 
him. Yet in thefe points he labours moft in thofe 
things which are moft apt to fcandalize his Parifh. 
And firft, becaufe Country people live hardly, and 

preferment, had much better choofe fome other inferior employ- 
ment, than expofe themfelves to fuch apparent danger in this. 
And as for thofe (if there be any fuch), who do not difcharge 
their office with that plainnefs and difcreetly-managed refolution 
which God and the church expects from them, it will not be 
improper to remind them of what Mr. Herbert hath written, 
(' Country Parfon 1 ) where he tells us : ' that fuch perfons wrong 
the priefthood, neglect their duty, and mall be fo far from that 
which they leek by their over-iubmiflivenefs and cringing, that 
they mail ever be defpifed/ Indeed, they have no reafon to expect 
any better ufage 5 for as flattery is defervedly accounted one of 
the moft contemptible vices, fo a clergyman, when he is guilty of 
it, is the worft of flatterers." — Jeremy Collier, Eflays, 3rd 
edition, 1698, p. 236. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 221 

therefore as feeling their own fweat, and confcqucntly 
knowing the price of money, are offended much with 
any, who by hard ufage increafe their travail, the 
Country Parfon is very circumfpecSt in avoiding all 
covetoufnefs, neither being greedy to get, nor niggardly 
to keep, nor troubled to lofe any worldly wealth ; but 
in all his words and actions flighting, and difcfteeming 
it, even to a wondering, that the world mould fo much 
value wealth, which in the day of wrath hath not one 
dram of comfort for us. Secondly, becaufe Luxury is 
a very vifible fin, the Parfon is very careful to avoid 
all the kinds thereof, but efpecially that of drinking, 
becaufe it is the mod popular vice ; into which if he 
come, he proftitutes himfelf both to fhame, and fin, and 
by having fellowfhip with the unfruitful works of darknefs, 
he difableth him elf of authority to reprove them : For 
fins make all equal, whom they find together ; and 
then they are worft, who ought to be beft. Neither is 
it for the fervant of Chrift to haunt Inns, or Taverns, 
or Alehoufes, to the difhonour of his Perfon and Office. 
The Parfon doth not fo, but orders his Life in fuch a 
fafhion, that when death takes him, as the Jews and 
Judas did Chrift, he may fay as He did, " I fat daily 
with you teaching in the Temple." Thirdly, becaufe 
Country people (as indeed all honeft men) do much 
efteem their word, it being the Life of buying and 
felling, and dealing in the world ; therefore the Parfon 
is very Uriel: in keeping his word, though it be to his 
own hinderance, as knowing, that if he be not fo, he 
will quickly be difcovered and difregarded : neither will 
they believe him in the Pulpit, whom they cannot truft 
in his Converfation. As for oaths, and apparel, the 
diforders thereof are alfo very manifeft. The Parfon's 
yea is yea, and nay, nay ; and his apparel plain, but 
reverend and clean, without fpots, or duft, or fmell ; 
the purity of his mind breaking out, and dilating itfelf 
even to his body, clothes, and habitation. 



222 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

Chap. IV.* 

THE PARSON'S KNOWLEDGE. 

THE Country Parfon is full of all Knowledge. 
They fay, it is an ill Mafon that refufeth any 
ftone : and there is no knowledge, but, in a fkilful 
hand, ferves either pofitively as it is, or elfe to illuftrate 
fome other knowledge. He condefcends even to the 
knowledge of tillage, and pafturage, and makes great 
ufe of them in teaching, becaufe people, by what they 
underftand, are beft led to what they underftand not. 
But the chief and top of his knowledge confifts in the 
book of books, the ftorehoufe, and magazine of life 
and comfort, the Holy Scriptures, There he fucks, and 
lives. In the Scriptures he finds four things ; Precepts 
for life, Doctrines for knowledge, Examples for illuf- 
tration, and Promifes for comfort : thefe he hath di- 
gefted feverally. But for the underftanding of thefe ; the 
means he ufeth are firft, a holy life, remembering what 
his Mafter faith, that " if any do God's will, he mall 
know of the doctrine," John vii, and affuring himfelf, 
that wicked men, however learned, do not know the 
Scriptures, becaufe they feel them not, and becaufe 
they are not underftood but with the fame Spirit that 
writ them. The fecond means is prayer, which if it 
be neceflary even in temporal things, how much more 
•in things of another world, where the well is deep, and 
we have nothing of ourfelves to draw with ? Where- 
fore he ever begins the reading of the Scripture with 
fome fhort inward ejaculation, as, " Lord open mine 

* u Be covetous of all good which you fee in Frenchmen, 
whether it be in knowledge, or in words. Let there be no kind 
of" excellency which it is pollible for you to attain to, which you 
feek not." — Herbert to his brother at Paris. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 22J 

eyes, that I may fee the wondrous things of thy law, 
&c."* The third means is a diligent Collation of 
Scripture with Scripture. For all truth being confonant 
to itfelf, and all being penned by one and the felf-fame 
Spirit, it cannot be, but that an indufrrious, and judi- 
cious comparing of place with place, muft be a Angu- 
lar help for the right underftanding of the Scriptures. 
To this may be added the confideration of any Text 
with the coherence thereof, touching what goes before, 
and what follows after, as alfo the .fcope of the Holy 
Ghoft. When the Apoftles would have called down 
lire from Heaven, they were reproved, as ignorant of 
what fpirit they were. For the Law required one 
thing, and the Gofpel another : yet as diverfe, not as 
repugnant : therefore the fpirit of both is to be con- 
fiderea, and weighed. The fourth means are Com- 
menters and Fathers, who have handled the places 
controverted, which the Parfon by no means refufeth. 
As he doth not fo ftudy others, as to neglect the 
grace of God in himfelf, and what the Holy Spirit 
teacheth him ; fo doth he allure himfelf, that God in 
all ages hath had his Servants, to whom he hath 
revealed his Truth, as well as to him ; and that as one 
Country doth not bear all things, that there may be 
a Commerce ; fo neither hath God opened, or will 
open all to one, that there may be a traffic in know- 
ledge between the fervants of God, for the planting 
both of love and humility. Wherefore he hath one 
Comment at leaft upon every Book of Scripture, and 
ploughing with this, and his own meditations, he 
enters into the fecrets of God treafured in the holy 
Scripture. 

# Pfalm cxix. 18. 



224- HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 



Chap. V. 



THE PARSON'S ACCESSORY 
KNOWLEDGES. 

THE Country Parfon hath read the Fathers alfo, 
and the Schoolmen, and the later Writers, or a 
good proportion of all,* out of all which he hath com- 
piled a Book and Body of Divinity, which is the 
ftorehoufe of his Sermons, and which he preacheth all 
his Life ; but diverfely clothed, illuftrated, and enlarged. 
For though the world is full of fuch compofures, yet 
every man's own is fitteft, readieft, and moft favoury 
to him. Befides, this being to be done in his younger 
and preparatory times, it is an honeft joy ever after to 
look upon his well-fpent hours. This Body he made 
by way of expounding the Church Catechifm, to which 
all Divinity may eafily be reduced. For it being indif- 
ferent in itfelf to choofe any Method, that is beft to be 
chofen, of which there is likelier! to be moft ufe. Now 
Catechizing being a work of fingular and admirable 
benefit to the Church of God, and a thing required 
under Canonical obedience, the expounding of our 
Catechifm muft needs be the moft ufeful form. Yet 
hath the Parfon, befides this laborious work, a {lighter 
form of Catechizing, fitter for Country people ; 
according as his audience is, fo he ufeth one, or other ; 
or fometimes both, if his audience be intermixed. He 

* " Woe be to him that reads but one book"" — Herbert's 
Proverbs. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 225 

greatly cftccms alfo of cafes of conference,* wherein 
he is much verfed. And indeed, herein is the greateft 
ability of a Parfon, to lead his people exactly in the 
ways of Truth, fo that they neither decline to the 
right hand nor to the left. Neither let any think this 
a flight thing. For every one hath not digefted, when 
it is a fin to take fomething for money lent, or when 
not ; when it is a fault to difcover another's fault, or 
when not ; when the affections of the foul in defiring 
and procuring increafe of means, or honour, be a fin 
of covetoufnefs or ambition, and when not ; when the 
appetites of the body in eating, drinking, fleep, and the 
pleafure that comes with fleep, be fins of gluttony, 
drunkennefs, floth, luft, and when not, and fo in many 
circumftances of actions. Now if a fhepherd know 
not which grafs will bane, or which not, how is he 
fit to be a fhepherd ? Wherefore the Parfon hath 
thoroughly canvaffed all the particulars of human ac- 
tions, at leaf! all thofe which he obferveth are moft 
incident to his Parifh. 



* Herbert writes in the temper of that age in which Bifhop 
Taylor's great work, the " Duftor Dubitantum," or Guide of the 
Doubting," appeared j but Heber has remarked : — " I have 
myielf had fufficient experience of what are generally called 
lcruples, to be convinced that the greater proportion of thole 
which are fubmitted to a fpiritual guide, are nothing more than 
artifices by which men feek to gratify themfelves in what they 
know to be wrong j and I am convinced that the moft efficacious 
manner of eafing a doubtful confeience is, for the moft part, to 
recall the profeifed penitent from diftinclions to generals ; from 
the peculiarities of his private concerns to the fimple words of the 
commandment. If we are too curious, we only muddy the 
ttream ; but the cleared truth is, in morals, always on the furrace." 
— Life of Taylor, p. 269. 



226 Herbert's prose works. 

Chap. VI. 

THE PARSON PRAYING. 

THE Country Parfon when he is to read divine 
lei vices, compofeth himfelf to all potfible reve- 
rence ; lifting up his heart and hands and eyes, and 
ufing all other geftures, which may exprefs a hearty, 
and unfeigned devotion. This he doth, Firft, as being 
truly touched and amazed with the Majefty of God, 
before whom he then prefents himfelf; yet not as him- 
felf alone, but as prefenting with himfelf the whole 
Congregation ; whofe fins he then bears, and brings 
with his own to the heavenly Altar to be bathed, and 
warned in the facred Laver of Chrift's blood. Se- 
condly, as this is the true reafon of his inward fear, fo 
he is content to exprefs this outwardly to the utmoft 
of his power ; that being at firft affected himfelf, he 
may affect: alfo his people, knowing that no Sermon 
moves them fo much to reverence, which they forget 
again, when they come to pray, as a devout behaviour 
in the very act of praying. Accordingly his voice is 
humble, his words treatable, and flow ; yet not fo flow 
neither, as to let the fervency of thefupplicant hang and 
die between fpeaking, but with a grave livelinefs, be- 
tween fear and zeal, paufing yet prefling, he performs 
his duty. Befides his example, he having often in- 
ftructed his people how to carry themfelves in divine 
fervice, exacts of them all pomble reverence, by no 
means enduring either talking, or fleeping, or gazing, 
or leaning, or half-kneeling, or any undutiful behaviour 
in them, but caufing them, when they fit, or ftand, or 
kneel, to do all in a ftraight, and fteady pofture, as 
attending to what is done in the Church, and every 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 22J 

one, man and child, anfwering aloud both Amen, and 
all other anfwers, which are on the Clerk's and People's 
part to anfwer ; which anfwers alfo are to be done not 
in a huddling, or flubbering fafhion, gaping, or Scratch- 
ing the head, or fpitting even in the midfl of their 
anfwer, but gently and paufably, thinking what they 
fay ; fo that while they anfwer, " As it was in the 
beginning, &c." they meditate as they fpeak, that God 
hath ever had his people, that have glorified him as 
well as now, and that he fhall have fo for ever. And 
the like in, other anfwers. This is that which the 
Apoftle calls a reafonable fervice, Romans xii., when 
we fpeak not as Parrots, without reafon, or offer up 
fuch facrifices as they did of old, which was of beafts 
devoid of reafon ; but when we ufe our reafon, and 
apply our powers to the fervice of Him that gives 
them. If there be any of the Gentry or Nobility of 
the parifh, who fometimes make it a piece of ftate not 
to come at the beginning of fervice with their poor 
neighbours, but at mid-prayers, both to their own lofs 
and of theirs alfo who gaze upon them when they come 
in, and neglect the prefent fervice of God, he by no 
means fuffers it, but after divers gentle admonitions, 
if they perfevere, he caufes them to be prefented : or if 
the poor Churchwardens be affrighted with their great- 
nefs, notwithftanding his inftrufiion that they ought 
not to be fo, but even to let the world fink, fo they do 
their duty, he prefents them himfelf ; only protefting 
to them, that not any ill-will draws him to it, but the 
debt and obligation of his calling, being to obey God 
rather than men. 



<^2 



228 Herbert's prose works. 



Chap. VII. 

THE PARSON PREACHING. 

THE Country Parfon preacheth constantly, the 
Pulpit is his joy and his throne : if he at any time 
intermit, it is either for want of health, or againft fome 
great feftival, that he may the better celebrate it, or 
for the variety of the hearers, that he may be heard at 
his return more attentively. When he intermits, he is 
ever very well fupplied by fome able man, who treads 
in his fteps, and will not throw down what he hath 
built ; whom alfo he entreats to prefs fome point, that 
he himfelf hath often urged with no great fuccefs, that 
fo, in the mouth of two or three witneiTes the truth 
may be more eftablifhed. When he preacheth, he 
procures attention by all poffible art, both by earneft- 
nefs of fpeech, it being natural to men to think, that 
where is much earneftness, there is fomewhat worth 
hearing : and by a diligent and bufy caft of his eye on 
his auditors, with letting them know that he obferves 
who marks, and who not ; and with particularizing of 
his fpeech now to the younger fort, then to the elder, 
now to the poor, and now to the rich. This is for you, 
and This is for you \ for particulars ever touch, and 
awake more than generals. Herein alfo he ferves him- 
felf of the judgments of God, as of thofe of ancient 
times, fo efpecially of the late ones ; and thofe moll: 
which are neareft to his Parifh ; for people are very 
attentive at fuch difcourfes, and think it behoves them 
to be fo, when God is fo near them, and even over their 
heads. Sometimes he tells them ftories, and fayings 
of others, according as his text invites him ; for them 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 229 

alfo men heed, and remember better than exhortations ; 
which though earned, yet often die with the Sermon, 
especially with Country people ; which are thick, and 
heavy, and hard to raife to a point of Zeal, and fer- 
vency, and need a mountain of fire to kindle them ; 
but ftories and fayings they will well remember. He 
often tells them, that Sermons are dangerous things, 
that none goes out of Church as he came in, but either 
better or worfe ; that none is carelefs before his Judge, 
and that the Word of God mail judge us. By thefe 
and other means the Parfon procures attention ; but 
the character of his fermon is Holinefs ; he is not 
witty, or learned, or eloquent, but Holy. A character 
that Hermogenes never dreamed of, and therefore he 
could give no precept thereof. But it is gained Firft, 
by choofing Texts of Devotion, not Controverfy, 
moving and ravifhing Texts, whereof the Scriptures 
are full. Secondly, by dipping and feafoning all our 
words and fentences in our hearts, before they come 
into our mouths, truly affecting and cordially exprefftng 
all that we fay ; fo that the auditors may plainly per- 
ceive that every word is heart-deep. Thirdly, by 
turning often, and making many Apoftrophes to God, 
as, O Lord, blefs my people and teach them this point ; 
or, O my Mafter, on whofe errand I come, let me 
hold my peace, and do thou fpeak thyfelf : for thou art 
Love, and when thou teacheft, all are Scholars. Some 
fuch irradiations fcatteringly in the Sermon, carry great 
holinefs in them. The Prophets are admirable in this. 
So Ifaiah lxiv. " O that thou wouldft rend the Heavens, 
that thou wouldft come down," &c. And Jeremiah x. 
after he had complained of the defolation of Ifrael, 
turns to God fuddenly, " O Lord, I know that the way 
of man is not in himfelf," &c. Fourthly, by frequent 
wifhes of the people's good, and joying therein, though 
he himfelf were with St. Paul even facriflced upon the 



230 Herbert's prose works. 

fervice of their faith. For there is no greater fign of 
holinefs, than the procuring and rejoicing in another's 
good. And herein St. Paul excelled in all his Epiftles. 
How did he put the Romans in all his prayers ? Rom. 
i. 9. And ceafed not to give thanks for the Ephefians, 
Eph. i. 16. And for the Corinthians, chap. i. 4. 
And for the Philippians made requeft with joy, 
chap. i. 4. And is in contention for them, whether to 
live or die ; be with them, or Chrift, verfe 23, which, 
fetting afide his care of his flock, were a madnefs to 
doubt of. What an admirable Epiftle is the fecond to 
the Corinthians ! how full of affections ! he joys, and 
he is forry, he grieves, and he glories ; never was there 
fuch care of a flock expreffed, fave in the great Shep- 
herd of the fold, who firft fried tears over Jerufalem, 
and afterwards blood. Therefore this care may be 
learned there, and then woven into Sermons, which 
will make them appear exceeding reverend, and holy. 
Laftly, by an often urging of the prefence, and majefty 
of God, by thefe, or fuch like fpeeches, — Oh let us all 
take heed what we do ! God fees us, he fees whether 
I fpeak as I ought, or you hear as you ought, he fees 
hearts as we fee faces : he is among us ; for if we be 
here, he muft be here, fince we are here by him, and 
without him could not be here. Then turning the 
difcourfe to his Majefty, And he is a great God, 
and terrible, as great in mercy, fo great in judg- 
ment. There are but two devouring elements, 
fire and water, he hath both in him : " His voice 
is as the found of many waters," Revelation i. 
And " He himfelf is a confuming fire," Hebrews, xii. 
Such difcourfes fhow very holy. The Parfon's Method 
in handling of a Text, confifts of two parts : Firft, a 
plain and evident declaration of the meaning of the 
Text ; and fecondly, fome choice Obfervations drawn 
out of the whole Text, as it lies entire, and unbroken 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 23 1 

in the Scripture itfelf. This he thinks natural, and 
fweet, and grave. Whereas the other way of crumb- 
ling a Text into fmall parts, as, the Perfon fpeaking, 
or fpoken to, the fubject, and object, and the like, hath 
neither in it fweetnefs, nor gravity, nor variety, fince 
the words apart are not Scripture, but a Dictionarv, 
and may be confidered alike in all the Scripture. The 
Parfon exceeds not an hour in preaching, becaufe all 
ages have thought that a competency, and he that 
profits not in that time, will lefs afterwards, the fame 
affection which made him not profit before, making 
him then weary, and fo he grows from not reliihing, to 
loathing. 



Chap. VIII. 

THE PARSON ON SUNDAYS. 

THE Country Parfon, as foon as he awakes on 
Sunday morning, prefently falls to work, and 
feems to himfelf fo as a Market-man is, when the 
Market-day comes, or a fhop-keeper, when cuftomers 
come in. His thoughts are full of making the beft of 
the day, and contriving it to his bell: gains. To this 
end, befides his ordinary prayers, he makes a peculiar 
one for a blefling on the exercifes of the day. That 
nothing befall him unworthy of that Majefty, before 
which he is to prefent himfelf, but that all may be 
done with reverence to his glory, and with edification 
to his flock, humbly befeeching his Mailer, that how 
or whenever he punifh him, it be not in his Miniftry : 
then he turns to requeft for his people, that the Lord 
would be pleafed to fanctify them all, that they may 



232 Herbert's prose works. 

come with holy hearts, and awful minds into the Con- 
gregation, and that the good God would pardon all 
thofe who come with lefs prepared hearts than they 
ought. This done, he fets himfelf to the Confederation 
of the duties of the day, and if there be any extraor- 
dinary addition to the cuftomary exerciies, either from 
the time of the year, or from the State, or from God, 
by a child born, or dead, or any other accident, he 
contrives how and in what manner to induce it to the 
beft advantage. Afterwards when the hour calls, with 
his family attending him, he goes to church, at his firft 
entrance humbly adoring and worshipping the invifible 
majefty and prefence of Almighty God, and blefling 
the people either openly, or to himfelf. Then having 
read Divine Service twice fully, and preached in the 
morning, and catechized in the afternoon, he thinks 
he hath in fome meafure, according to poor and frail 
man, difcharged the public duties of the congregation. 
The reft of the day he fpends either in reconciling 
neighbours that are at variance, or in vifiting the fick, 
or in exhortations to fome of his flock by themfelves, 
whom his Sermons cannot, or do not reach. And 
every one is more awaked, when we come, and fay ; 
Thou art the man. This way he finds exceeding 
ufeful, and winning ; and thefe exhortations he calls 
his privy purfe, even as Princes have theirs, befides 
their public difburfements. At night he thinks it a 
very fit time, both fuitable to the joy of the day, and 
without hinderance to public duties, either to entertain 
fome of his neighbours or to be entertained of them, 
where he takes occafion to difcourfe of fuch things, as 
are both profitable and pleafant, and to raife up their 
minds to apprehend God's good blefling to our church 
and ftate ; that order is kept in the one, and peace in 
the other, without difturbance, or interruption of 
public divine offices. As he opened the day with 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 233 

prayer, fo he clofeth it, humbly befeeching the Almighty 

to pardon and accept our poor fervices, and to improve 
them, that we may grow therein, and that our feet 
may be like hind's feet, ever climbing up higher and 
higher unto him. 



Chap. IX. 

THE PARSON'S STATE OF LIFE. 

THE Country Parfon confidering that virginity is 
a higher ftate than Matrimony, and that the 
Miniftry requires the beft and higheft things, is rather 
unmarried than married. But yet as the temper of his 
body may be, or as the temper of his Parifh may be, 
where he may have occafion to converfe with women, 
and that among fufpicious men, and other like circum- 
flances confidered, he is rather married than unmarried. 
Let him communicate the thing often by prayer unto 
God, and as his grace mail direct him, fo let him 
proceed. If he be unmarried, and keep houfe, he hath 
not a woman in his houfe, but finds opportunities of 
having his meat dreffed and other fervices done by 
men-fervants at home, and his linen warned abroad. 
If he be unmarried, and fojourn, he never talks with 
any woman alone, but in the audience of others, and 
that feldom, and then alfo in a ferious manner, never 
jeftingly, or fportfully. He is very circumfpedt in all 
companies, both of his behaviour, fpeech, and very 
looks, knowing himfelf to be both fufpe£f.ed and envied. 
If he ftands fteadfaft in his heart, having no neceflity, 
but hath power over his own will, and hath fo decreed 
in his heart, that he will keep himfelf a Virgin, he 
ij.ends his days in fafting and prayer, and blefTeth God 



234 Herbert's prose works. 

for the gift of continency, knowing that it can no way 
be preferred, but only by thofe means, by which at 
firft it was obtained. He therefore thinks it not 
enough for him to obferve the failing days of the 
Church, and the daily prayers enjoined him by Autho- 
rity, which he obferveth out of humble conformity and 
obedience ; but adds to them, out of choice and devo- 
tion, fome other days for fafting, and hours for prayers ; 
and by thefe he keeps his body tame, ferviceable, and 
healthful ; and his foul fervent, active, young, and 
lufty as an eagle. He often readeth the Lives of the 
Primitive Monks, Hermits, and Virgins, and wonder- 
eth not fo much at their patient fuffering, and cheerful 
dying under perfecuting Emperors, (though that indeed 
be very admirable) as at their daily temperance, abfti- 
nence, watchings, and conftant prayers, and mortifica- 
tions in the times of peace and prosperity. To put on 
the profound humility, and the exact temperance of 
our Lord Jefus, with other exemplary virtues of that 
fort, and to keep them on in the funfhine, and noon of 
profperity, he findeth to be as necefiary, and as difficult 
at leaft, as to be clothed with perfect patience and 
Chriftian fortitude in the cold midnight ftorms of 
perfecution and adverfity. He keepeth his watch and 
ward, night and day againft the proper and peculiar 
temptations of his ftate of Life, which are principally 
Thefe Two, Spiritual pride, and Impurity of heart ; 
againft thefe ghoftly enemies he girdeth up his loins, 
keeps the imagination from roving, puts on the whole 
Armour of God, and by the virtue of the fhield of 
faith, he is not afraid of the peftilence that walketh in 
darknefs, [carnal impurity] nor of the ficknefs that 
deftroyeth at noon day, [Ghoftly pride and felf-conceit.] 
Other temptations he hath, which like mortal enemies, 
may fometimes difquiet him likewife ; for the human 
foui being bounded, and kept in her fenfitive faculty, 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 2?5 

will run out more or lefs in her intellectual. Original 
concupifcence is fuch an acStive thing, by reafon of" 
continual inward or outward temptations, that it is ever 
attempting, or doing one mifchief or other. Ambition, 
or untimely defire of promotion to a higher Mate or 
place, under colour of accommodation, or neceflary 
provifion, is a common temptation, to men of any 
eminency, efpecially being fingle men. Curiofity in 
prying into high fpeculative and unprofitable queftions, 
is another great {tumbling block to the holinefs of 
Scholars. Thefe and many other fpiritual wicked- 
nefles in high places doth the Parfon fear, or experiment, 
or both ; and that much more being fingle, than if he 
were married ; for then commonly the ftream of 
temptations is turned another way, into Covetoufnefs, 
Love of pleafure, or eafe, or the like. If the Parfon 
be unmarried, and means to continue fo, he doth at 
lean:, as much as hath been faid. If he be married, 
the choice of his wife was made rather by his ear, than 
bv his eye ; his judgment, not his affection, found out 
a fit wife for him, whofe humble and liberal difpofition 
he preferred before beauty, riches, or honour.* He 
knew that (the good inftrument of God to bring 
woman to heaven) a wife and loving hufband could, 
out of humility, produce any fpecial grace of faith, 
patience, meeknefs, love, obedience, &c, and out of 
liberality make her fruitful in all good works. As he 
is juft in all things, fo is he to his wife alfo, counting 
nothing fo much his own, as that he may be unjult 
unto it. Therefore he gives her refpect both afore her 
fervants, and others, and half at leaft of the govern- 
ment of the houfe, referving fo much of the aitairs as 
ferve for a diverfion for him ; yet never fo giving over 
the reins, but that he fometimes looks how things go, 

* "The wife is the key of the hoiife.'' — Herbert's Proverbs. 



236 Herbert's prose works. 

demanding an account, but not by the way of an 
account.* And this muft be done the oftener, or the 
feldomer, according as he is fatiffied of his wife's 
difcretion. 



Chap. X. 

THE PARSON IN HIS HOUSE. 

THE Parfon is very exacT: in the governing of his 
Houfe, making it a Copy and model for his 
Parifh. He knows the temper and pulfe of every 
perfon in his houfe, and accordingly either meets with 
their vices, or advanceth their virtues. His wife is 
either religious, or night and day he is winning her to 
it. Inftead of the qualities of the world, he requires 
only three of her ; Firft, a training up of her children 
and maids in the fear of God, with prayers, and cate- 
chizing, and all religious duties. Secondly, a curing 
and healing of all wounds and fores with her own 
hands ; which fkill either fhe brought with her, or he 
takes care fhe fhall learn it of fome religious neighbour. 
Thirdly, a providing for her family in fuch fort, as that 
neither they want a competent fuftentation, nor her 
hufband be brought in debt. His children he firir. 
makes Chriftians,f and then Commonwealth's men ; 

* " And he was moft happy in his wife's unforced compliance 
with his a£t.s of charity, whom he made his almoner, and paid 
conftantly into her hand a tenth penny of what money he re- 
ceived for tithe, and gave her power to difpofe that to the poor of 
the parifh, and with it a power to difpofe a tenth part of the corn 
that came yearly to his barn , which truft fhe did moft faithfully 
perform, and would often offer to him an account of her fteward- 
fhip." — Isaak Walton. 

•J- " Take this rule, and it is an outlandifh one, which I com- 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 237 

the one he owes to his heavenly Country, the other 
to his earthly, having no title to either, except he- 
do good to both. Therefore having feafoned them 
with all piety, not only of words in praying, and read- 
ing ; but in actions, in vifiting other fick children, 
and tending their wounds, and fending his charity by 
them to the poor, and fomctimes giving them a little- 
money to do it of themfelves, that they get a delight in 
it, and enter favour with God, who weighs even chil- 
dren's actions. 1 Kings xiv. 12, 13 ; he afterwards 
turns his care to fit all their difpofitions with fome 
calling, not fparing the eldeft, but giving him the pre- 
rogative of his father's profeflion, which happily for his 
other children he is not able to do. Yet in binding 
them Apprentices (in cafe he think fit to do fo) he 
takes care not to put them into vain trades, and un- 
befitting the reverence of their Father's calling, fuch as 
are Taverns for men, and Lace-making for women - y 
becaufe thofe trades, for the moft part, ferve but the 
vices and vanities of the world, which he is to deny 
and not augment. However^ he refolves with himfelf 
never to omit any prefent good deed of charity, in con- 
federation of providing a ltock for his children ; but 
aflures himfelf, that money, thus lent to God, is placed 
furer for his children's advantage, than if it were given 
to the Chamber of London.* Good deeds, and good 
breeding, are his two great frocks for his children ; if 
God give any thing above thofe, and not fpent in them, 
he blefTeth God, and lays it out as he fees caufe. His 
fervants are all religious, and were it not his duty to 
have them fo, it were his profit, for none are fo well 

mend to you as being now a father : * The beft bred child hath 
the beft portion.' " — Herbert to his brother Henry. 

* " Great alms-giving leflfens no man's living." " Giving 
much to the poor doth enrich a man's ftore. — Proverbs collected 
by Herbert. 



238 Herbert's prose works. 

ferved, as by religious fervants, both becaufe they 
do beft, and becaufe what they do, is bleffed and pros- 
pers. After religion, he teacheth them, that Three 
things make a complete fervant, Truth, and Diligence, 
and Neatnefs, or Cleanlinefs. Thofe that can read, 
are allowed times for it, and thofe that cannot, are 
taught ; for all in his houfe are either teachers or 
learners, or both, fo that his family is a School of 
Religion, and they all account that to teach the 
ignorant is the greateft alms. Even the walls are not 
idle, but fomething is written or painted there, which 
may excite the reader to a thought of piety: efpecially 
the 101ft Pfalm, which is expreffed in a fair table, as 
being the Rule of a Family. And when they go 
abroad, his wife among her neighbours is the beginner 
of good difcourfes, his children among children, his 
fervants among other fervants ; fo that as in the houfe 
of thofe that are (killed in Mufic, all are Muiicians ; 
fo in the houfe of a Preacher, all are Preachers. He 
fuffers not a lie or equivocation by any means in his 
houfe, but counts it the art and fecret of governing, to 
preferve a direchnefs, and open plainnefs in all things ; 
fo that all his houfe knows, that there is no help for a 
fault done, but confefiion. Pie himfelf, or his wife, 
takes account of Sermons, and how every one profits, 
comparing this year with the laft : and befides the 
common prayers of the Family, he ftraightly requires 
of all to pray by themfelves before they fleep at night, 
and ftir out in the morning, and knows what prayers 
they fay, and till they have learned them, makes them 
kneel by him ; efteeming that this private praying is a 
more voluntary act in them, than when they are called 
to others' prayers, and that which when they leave the 
family, they carry with them. He keeps his fervants 
between love and fear, according as he finds them - 9 
but generally he distributes it thus, To his children 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 239 

he (hows more love than terror, to his fervants more 
terror than love ; but an old good fervant boards* 
a child. The furniture of his houfe is very plain, 
but clean, whole, and fweet, as fweet as his garden 
can make ; for he hath no money for fuch things, 
charity being his only perfume, which deferves coft 
when he can fpare it. His fare is plain, and common, 
but wholefome, what he hath, is little, but very good ; 
it confifleth moft of mutton, beef, and veal ; if he 
adds any thing for a great day, or a- ftranger, his 
garden or orchard fupplies it, or his barn, and yard : 
he goes no further for any entertainment, left he go 
into the world, efteeming it abfurd, that he mould 
exceed, who teacheth others temperance. But thofe 
which his home produceth, he refufeth not, as coming 
cheap, and eafy, and arifing from the improvement of 
things, which otherwife would be loft. Wherein he 
admires and imitates the wonderful providence and 
thrift of the great Houfeholder of the world : for there 
being two things, which as they are, are unufeful to 
man, the one for fmallnefs, as crumbs, and fcattered 
corn, and the like ; the other for the foulnefs, as warn, 
and dirt, and things thereinto fallen ; God hath pro- 
vided Creatures for both ; for the firft, Poultry, for the 
fecond, Swine. Thefe fave man the labour, and doing 
that which either he could not do, or was not fit for 
him to do, by taking both forts of food into them, do 
as it were drefs and prepare both for man in them- 
felves, by growing themfelves fit for his table. The 
Parfon in his houfe obferves fafting days ; and par- 
ticularly, as Sunday is his day of joy, fo Friday his day 
of Humiliation, which he celebrates not only with 
abftinence of diet, but alfo of company, recreation, and 
all outward contentments ; and befides, with confeflion 

* Is treated as one of the family. 



240 Herbert's prose works. 

of fins, and all acts of mortification. Now failing 
days contain a treble obligation : Firil, of eating lefs 
that day, than on other days ; Secondly, of eating no 
pleafing, or over-nou riming things, as the Ifraelites 
did eat four herbs : Thirdly, of eating no flefh, which 
is but the determination of the fecond rule by Autho- 
rity to this particular. The two former obligations 
are much more effential to a true faft, than the third 
and kit ; and failing days were fully performed by 
keeping of the two former, had not Authority inter- 
pofed : fo that to eat little, and that unpleafant, is the 
natural rule of failing, although it be flefh. For fince 
Failing in Scripture language is an afflicting of our 
iouls, if a piece of dry fleili at my table be more 
unpleafant to me, than fome fiih there, certainly to eat 
the fleih, and not the fiih, is to keep the Failing day 
naturally. And it is obfervable, that the prohibiting of 
fleih came from hot Countries, where both fleih alone, 
and much more with wine, is apt to nourifh more than 
in cold regions, and where fleih may be much better 
fpared, and with more fafety than elfewhere, where 
both the people and the drink being cold and phleg- 
matic, the eating of fleih is an antidote to both. For 
it is certain, that a weak ilomach, being prepoiTeiTed 
with fleih, ihall much better brook and bear a draught 
of beer, than if it had taken before either fiih or roots, 
or fuch things ; which will difcover itfelf by fpitting, 
and rheum, or phlegm. To conclude, the Parfon, if 
he be in full health, keeps the three obligations, eating 
fiih, or roots, and that for quantity little, for quality 
unpleafant. If his body be weak and obflructed, as 
moil Students are, he cannot keep the lail obligation, 
nor fuffer others in his houfe that are fo, to keep 
it; but only the two former, which alfo in difeafes 
of exinanition (as confumptions) muil be broken ; for 
meat was made for man, not man for meat. To 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 2.' r I 

all this may be added, not for emboldening the unruly, 
but for the comfort of the weak, that not only ficknefs 
breaks thefe obligations of falling, but ficklinefs alfo. 
For it is as unnatural to do anything, that leads me to 
a ficknefs, to which I am inclined, as not to get out of 
that ficknefs, when I am in it, by any diet. One thing 
is evident, that an Englifh Body, and a Student's 
Body, are two great obftrudted vefTels, and there is 
nothing that is food, and not phyfic, which doth lefs 
obftrucl, than flefh moderately taken; as being im- 
moderately taken, it is exceeding obftru&ive. And 
obftruclions are the caufe of moft difeafes.* 



Chap. XI. 



THE PARSON'S COURTESY, t 

THE Country Parfon owing a debt of Charity to 
the poor, and of Courtefy to his other Parifhion- 

* Herbert brings out with moft ferious beauty the caution in 
Shakefpere : — 

u But, good my brother, 
Do not, as ibme ungracious pallors do, 
Show me the fteep and thorny way to heaven, 
Whilft like a puft and carelefs libertine, 
Himfelf the primrofe path of dalliance treads, 
And recks not his own reed." 
(That is, does not regard his own doctrine.) 

f A genial hearth, a hofpitable board, 
And a refined rufticity, belong 
To the neat manfion, where his flock among, 
The learned paftor dwells, their watchful lord ; 
Though meek and patient as a fheathed lword. , ' > 

Wordsworth, Eccles. Sonnets, xviii. 
R 



242 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

ers, he fo diftinguifheth, that he keeps his money for 
the poor, and his table for thofe that are above Alms. 
Not but that the poor are welcome alfo to his table, 
whom he fometimes purpofely takes home with him, 
fetting them clofe by him, and carving for them, both 
for his own humility, and their comfort, who are much 
cheered with fuch friendlinefle. But fince both is to 
be done, the better fort invited, and meauer relieved, 
he choofeth rather to give the poor money, which they 
can better employ to their own advantage, and fuitably 
to their needs, than fo much given in meat at dinner. 
Having then invited fome of his parifh, he taketh his 
times to do the like to the reft ; fo that in the compafs 
of the year, he hath them all with him, becaufe coun- 
try people are very obfervant of fuch things, and will 
not be perfuaded, but being not invited, they are hated. 
Which perfuafion the Parfon by all means avoids, 
knowing that where there are fuch conceits, there is 
no room for his doctrine to enter. Yet doth he often- 
eft invite thofe whom he fees take beft courfes, that fo 
both they may be encouraged to perfevere, and others 
fpurred to do well, that they may enjoy the like cour- 
tefy. For though he defire, that all inould live well 
and virtuoufly, not for any reward of his, but for vir- 
tue's fake \ yet that will not be fo : and therefore as 
God, although we mould love him only for his own 
fake, yet out of his infinite pity hath fet forth heaven 
for a reward to draw men to Piety, and is content, if 
at leaft fo, they will become good ; fo the Country 
Parfon, who is a diligent obferver, and tracker of 
God's ways, fets up as many encouragements to good- 
nefs as he can, both in honour, and profit, and fame ; 
that he may, if not the beft way, yet any way, make 
his Parifh good. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 243 

Chap. XII. 

THE PARSON'S CHARITY. 

THE Country Parfon is full of Charity ;* it is his 
predominant element. For many and wonderful 
things are fpoken of thee, thou great Virtue. To 
Chanty is given the covering of fins, 1 Pet. iv. 8 ; and 
the forgivenefs of fins, Matthew vi. 14, Luke vii. 
47 ; the fulfilling of the law, Romans xiii. 10 ; the life 
of faith, James ii. 26 ; the bleffings of this life, Pro- 
verbs xxii. 9, Pfalm xli. 2 ; and the reward of the 
next, Matthew xxv. 35 . In brief, it is the body of 
religion, John xiii. 35 ; and the top of Chriftian vir- 
tues, 1 Corinthians xiii. Wherefore all his works 
relifh of Charity. When he rifeth in the morning, he 
bethinketh himfelf what good deeds he can do that 
day, and prefently doth them ; counting tnat day loft, 
wherein he hath not exercifed his Charity. He firft 
confiders his own Parifh, and takes care, that there be 
not a beggar, or idle perfon in his Parifh, but that all 
be in a competent way of getting their living. This 
he effeits either by bounty, or perfuafion, or by author- 
ity, making ufe of that excellent ftatute, which binds 
all Parifhes to maintain their own. If his Parifh be 
rich, he exacts this of them ; if poor, and he able, he 
eafeth them therein. But he gives no fet Penfion to 
any ; for this in time will lofe the name and effect of 
Charity with the poor people, though not with God: 
for then they will reckon upon it, as on a debt ; and if 

* " The miferable man maketh a penny of a farthing, and the 
liberal of a farthing, iixpence." — Proverbs colle£ted by Herbert. 

R 2 



244 HERBERT 3 PROSE WORKS. 

it be taken away, though juftly, they will murmur, 
and repine as much, as he that is diffeized of his own 
inheritance. But the Parfon having a double aim, and 
making a hook of his Charity, caufeth them ftill to 
depend on him ; and fo by continual, and frefh boun- 
ties, unexpected to them, but refolved to himfelf, he 
wins them to praife God more, to live more religioufly, 
and to take more pains in their vocation, as not know- 
ing when they mail be relieved ; which otherwife they 
would reckon upon and turn to idlenefs. Befides this 
general provilion, he hath other times of opening his 
hand ; as at great Feftivals and Communions > not 
fuffering any that day that he receives, to want a good 
meal fuiting to the joy of the occafion. But fpecially, 
at hard times, and dearths, he even parts his Living 
and life among them, giving fome Corn outright, and 
felling other at under rates ; and when his own flock 
ferves not, working thofe that are able to the fame 
charity, ftill prefiing it in the Pulpit and out of the 
Pulpit, and never leaving them till he obtain his defire. 
Yet in all his Charity, he diftinguifheth, giving them 
moft, who live beft, and take moft pains, and are moft 
charged : So is his charity in effecl: a Sermon. After 
the confideration of his own Pariih, he enlargeth him- 
felf, if he be able, to the neighbourhood ; for that alfo 
is fome kind of obligation ; fo doth he alfo to thofe at 
his door, whom God puts in his way, and makes his 
neighbours. But thefe he helps not without fome teft- 
imony, except the evidence of the mifery bring tefti- 
mony with it. For though thefe teftimonies alio may 
be falfified, yet confidering that the Law allows thefe 
in cafe they be true, but allows by no means to give 
without teftimony, as he obeys authority in the one, 
fo that being once fatiffied, he allows his charity fome 
blindnefs in the other; efpecially, fince of the two 
commands, we are more enjoined to be charitable than 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 245 

wife. But evident miferies have a natural privilege, 
and exemption from all law. Whenever he gives 
anything, and fees them labour in thanking of him, he 
exa&s of them to let him alone, and fay rather, God be 
praifed, God be glorified ; that fo the thanks may go 
the right way, and thither only, where they are only 
due. So doth he alfo before giving make them hy 
their Prayers firft, or the Creed, and ten Command- 
ments, and as he finds them perfect, rewards them the 
more. For other givings are lay, and fecular, but this 
is to give like a prieft. 

Chap. XIII. 

THE PARSON'S CHURCH. 

THE Country Parfon hath a fpecial care of his 
Church, that all things there be decent, and be- 
fitting his name, by which it is called. Therefore, 
Firft, he takes order, that all things be in good repair ; 
as walls plaftered, windows glazed, floor paved, feats 
whole, firm, and uniform, efpecially that the Pulpit 
and Defk, and Communion Table, and Font be as 
they ought, for thofe great duties that are performed 
in them. Secondly, That the Church be fwept, and 
kept clean without duft, or Cobwebs, and at great 
Feftivals ftrewed, and ftuck with boughs, and per- 
fumed with incenfe. Thirdly, That there be fit and 
proper Texts of Scripture everywhere painted, and that 
all the painting be grave, and reverend, not with light 
colours or foolifh antics. Fourthly, That all the Books 
appointed by Authority be there, and thofe not torn or 
fouled, but whole and clean, and well bound ; and that 
there be a fitting and lightly Communion Cloth of 



246 Herbert's prose works. 

fine linen, with a handfome, and feemly Carpet of 
good and coftly Stuff, or Cloth, and all kept fweet and 
clean, in a ftrong and decent Cheft, with a Chalice, 
and Cover, and a Stoop or Flagon : and a Bafin for 
Alms and Offerings ; befides which, he hath a Poor- 
man's Box conveniently feated, to receive the Charity 
of well-minded people, and to lay up treafure for the 
fick and needv. And all this he doth, not as out of 
neceffity, or as putting a holinefs in the things, but as 
defiring to keep the middle way between fuperftition 
and flovenlinefs, and as following the Apoftle's two 
great and admirable Rules in things of this nature : 
The firft whereof is, Let all things be done decently 
and in order : The fecond, Let all things be done to 
edification, 1 Cor. xiv. For thefe Two Rules com- 
prife and include the double object of our duty, God, 
and our neighbour ; the firft being for the honour of 
God, the fecond for the benefit of our neighbour. So 
that they excellently fcore out the way, and fully, and 
exactly contain, even in external and indifferent things, 
what courfe is to be taken ; and put them to great 
fhame, who deny the Scripture to be perfect:, 



Chap. XIV. 

THE PARSON IN CIRCUIT. 

THE Country Parfon upon the afternoons in the 
week-days, takes occafion fometimes to vifit in 
perfon, now one quarter of his Parifh, now another. 
For there he {hall find his flock moft naturally as they 
are, wallowing in the midft of their affairs : whereas 
on Sunday it is eafy for them to compofe themfelves 
to order, which they put on as their holyday clothes, 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 247 

and come to Church in frame, but commonly the next 
day put off* both. When he comes to any houfe, firft 
he blefleth it, and then as he finds the perfons of the 
houfe employed, fo he forms his difcourfe. Thofe that 
he finds religioufly employed, he both commends them 
much, and furthers them when he is gone, in their 
employment ; as if he finds them reading, he furniiheth 
:hem with good Books \ if curing poor people, he fup- 
plies them with Receipts, and inftrutSts them further 
in that (kill, (hewing them how acceptable fuch works 
are to God, and wiihing them ever to do the Cures 
with their own hands, and not to put them over to 
fervants. Thofe that he finds bufy in the works of 
their calling, he commendeth them alfo : for it is a 
good and juft thing for every one to do their own bufi- 
nefs. But then he admonifheth them of two things ; 
firft that they dive not too deep into worldly affairs, 
plunging themfelves over head and ears into carking 
and caring ; but that they fo labour, as neither to 
labour anxioully, nor diftru ft fully, nor profanely. 
Then they labour anxiously, when they overdo it, to 
the lofs of their quiet and health : then diftruftfully, 
when they doubt God's providence, thinking that their 
own labour is the caufe of their thriving, as if it were 
in their own hands to thrive or not to thrive. Then 
they labour profanely, when they fet themfelves to 
work like brute beafts, never raifing their thoughts to 
God, nor fanchifying their labour with daily prayer \ 
when on the Lord's day they do unnecefTary fervile 
work, or in time of divine fervice on other holy days, 
except in the cafes of extreme poverty, and in the fea- 
fons of Seed-time and Harveft. Secondly, he advifeth 
them fo to labour for wealth and maintenance, as that 
they make not that the end of their labour, but that 
they may have wherewithal to ferve God the better, 
and to do good deeds. After thefe difcourfes, if they 



248 Herbert's prose works. 

be poor and needy, whom he thus finds labouring, he 
gives them fomewhat ; and opens not only his mouth, 
but his purfe to their relief, that fo they go on more 
cheerfully in their vocation, and himfelf be ever the 
more welcome to them. Thofe that the Parfon finds 
idle, or ill-employed, he chides not at firft, for that 
were neither civil nor profitable ; but always in the 
clofe, before he departs from them ; yet in this he 
diftinguifheth ; for if he be a plain Countryman, he 
reproves him plainly ; for they are not fenfible of fine- 
nefs ; if they be of higher quality, they commonly are 
quick, and fenfible, and very tender of reproof; and 
therefore he lays his difcourfe fo, that he comes to the 
point very leifurely, and oftentimes, as Nathan did, in 
the perfon of another, making them to reprove them- 
felves. However, one way or other, he ever reproves 
them, that he may keep himfelf pure, and not be 
entangled in others' fins. Neither in this doth he 
forbear, though there be company by : for as when 
the offence is particular, and againft me, I am to fol- 
low our Saviour's rule, and to take my brother afide, 
and reprove him ; fo when the offence is public, and 
againft God, I am then to follow the apoftle's rule, 
1 Timothy v. 20, and to rebuke openly that which is 
done openly. B elides thefe occafional difcourfes, the 
Parfon queftions what order is kept in the houfe, as 
about prayers, morning and evening, on their knees, 
reading of Scripture, catechizing, finging of Pfalms at 
their work and on Holy days : who can read, who 
not ; and fometimes he hears the children read himfelf, 
and blefTeth, encouraging alfo the fervants to learn to 
read, and offering to have them taught on Holydays 
by his fervants. If the Parfon were afhamed of par- 
ticularizing in thefe things, he were not fit to be a 
parfon ; but he holds the Rule, that Nothing is little 
in God's fervice; If it once have the honour of that 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 249 

Name, it grows great inftantly. Wherefore neither 
difdaincth he to enter into the pooreft Cottage, though 
he even creep into it, and though it fmell never fo 
loathfomely. For both God is there alfo, and thofe 
for whom God died : and fo much the rather doth he 
fo, as his accefs to the poor is more comfortable, than 
to the rich \ and in regard of himfelf, it is more humi- 
liation. Thefe are the Parfon's general aims in his 
Circuit ; but with thefe he mingles other difcourfes for 
converfation fake, and to make his higher purpofes flip 
the more eafily. 



Chap. XV. 

THE PARSON COMFORTING. 

THE Country Parfon, when any of his Cure is 
fick, or afflicted with lofs of friend, or eftate, or 
any ways diftrefled, fails not to afford his befl: comforts, 
and rather goes to them, than fends for the afflicted, 
though they can, and otherwife ought to come to 
him. To this end he hath thoroughly digefted all 
the points of confolation, as having continual ufe of 
them, fuch as are from God's general providence ex- 
tended even to Lilies ; from his particular, to his 
Church ; from his promifes; from the examples of all 
Saints, that ever were ; from Chrift himfelf, perfecting 
our Redemption no other way than by forrow ; from 
the Benefit of affliicton, which foftens and works the 
ltubborn heart of man ; from the certainty both of 
deliverance, and reward, if we faint not ; from the 
miferable comparifon of the moment of griefs here 
with the weight of joys hereafter. Befides this, in his 
vifiting the fick, or otherwife afflicted, he followeth the 



25O HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

Church's counfel, namely, in perfuading them to par- 
ticular confeffion ; labouring to make them underftand 
the great good ufe of this ancient and pious Ordinance, 
and how neceffary it is in fome cafes : he alfo urgeth 
them to do fome pious charitable works, as a neceffary 
evidence and fruit of their faith, at that time efpecially : 
the participation of the Holy Sacrament, how comfort- 
able, and fovereign a medicine it is to all fin-fick fouls, 
what ftrength, and joy, and peace it adminifters againft 
all temptations, even to death itfelf, — he plainly, and 
generally intimateth to the difaffe£t-ed, or fick perfon ; 
that fo the hunger and thirft after it may come rather 
from themfelves, than from his perfuafion. 



Chap. XVI. 

THE PARSON A FATHER.* 

THE Country Parfon is not only a Father to his 
flock, but alfo profeffeth himfelf thoroughly of the 
opinion, carrying it about him with him as fully, as if 
he had begot his whole Parifh. And of this he makes 
great ufe, For by this means, when any fins, he hateth 
him not as an Officer, but pities him as a Father : and 
even in thofe wrongs which either in tithing or other- 
wife are done to his own perfon, he confiders the 
offender as a child, and forgives, fo he may have any 
fign of amendment ; fo alfo, when, after many admo- 
nitions, any continue to be refractory, yet he gives him 

* " Sir, the life of a Parfon, of a conscientious clergyman, is 
not eafy. I have always confidered a clergyman as the father of 
a larger family than he is able to maintain. ,, — Johnson by 
Croker, vii. 152. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 251 

not over, but is long before he proceed to difinheriting, 
or perhaps never goes fo for ; knowing that fame arc 
called at the eleventh hour, and therefore he (till ex- 
pects, and waits, left he fhould determine God's hour 
of coming ; which as he cannot, touching the Lift day, 
ib neither touching the intermediate days of Converfion. 



Chap. XVII. 

THE PARSON IN JOURNEY. 

THE Country Parfon, when a juft occafion calleth 
him out of his Parifh (which he diligently, and 
ftriclly weigheth, his Parifh being all his joy, and 
thought) leaveth not his Miniftry behind him ; but is 
himfelf wherever he is. Therefore thofe he meets on 
the way he bleffeth audibly, and with thofe he over- 
takes or that overtake him, he begins good difcourfes, 
fuch as may edify, interpofing fome fhort and honeft 
refreshments, which may make his other difcourfes 
more welcome, and lefs tedious. And when he comes 
to his Inn, he refufeth not to join, that he may enlarge 
the Glory of God to the companv he is in, by a due 
bleiling of God for their fafe arrival, and faying grace 
at meat, and at going to bed by giving the hoft notice, 
that he will have prayers in the hall, wifhing him to 
inform his guefts thereof, that if any be willing to par- 
take, they may refort thither. The like he doth in the 
morning, ufing pleafantly the outlandifh proverb, that 
Prayers and Provender never hinder Journey. When 
he comes to any other houfe, where his kindred or 
other relations give him any authority over the family, 
if he be to ftay for a time, he confiders diligently the 



252 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

ftate thereof to Godward, and that in two points : 
Firft, what diforders there are either in Apparel, or 
Diet, or too open a Buttery, or reading vain Books, or 
fwearing, or breeding up children to no calling, but in 
idlenefs, or the like. Secondly, what means of Piety, 
v/hether daily prayers be ufed, Grace, reading of Scrip- 
tures, and other good Books, how Sundays, holydays, 
and fafting days are kept. And accordingly, as he 
finds any defect in thefe, he firft confiders with himfelf, 
what kind of remedy fits the temper of the houfe beft, 
and then he faithfully, and boldly applieth it ; yet fea- 
fonably, and difcreetly, by taking afide the Lord or 
Lady -, or mafter or miftrefs of the houfe, and fhewing 
them clearly, that they refpefl: them moft, who wifh 
them belt, and that not a defire to meddle with others' 
affairs, but the earneftnefs to do all the good he can, 
moves him to fay thus and thus. 



Chap. XVIIL 



THE PARSON IN SENTINEL. 

THE Country Parfon, wherever he is, keeps God's 
watch ; that is, there is nothing fpoken, or done 
in the Company where he is, but comes under his Teft 
and cenfure ; If it be well fpoken or done, he takes 
occafion to commend, and enlarge it; if ill, he pre- 
fently lays hold of it, left the poifon fteal into fome 
young and unwary fpirits, and pofTefs them even before 
they themfelves heed it. B ut this he doth difcreetly, with 
mollifying and fuppling words : This was not fo well 
faid, as it might have been forborne ; We cannot allow 
this : or elfe the thing will admit interpretation ; Your 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 253 

meaning is not thus, but thus ; or, So far indeed what 
you fay is true, and well faid ; but this will not (land, 
This is called Keeping God's watch, when the baits 
which the enemy lays in company, are discovered, and 
avoided : This is to be on God's fide, and be true to 
his party. Befides, if he perceive in company any dif- 
courfe tending to ill, either by the wickednefs or quar- 
relfomenefs thereof, he either prevents it judicioufly, or 
breaks it off feafonably by fome diverfion. Wherein 
a pleafantnefs of difpofition is of great ufe, men being 
willing to fell the intereft, and engagement of their dif- 
courfes for no price fooner than that of mirth ;* 
whither the nature of man, loving refrefhment, gladly 
betakes itfelf, even to the lofs of honour. 



Chap. XIX. 

THE PARSON IN REFERENCE. 

THE Country Parfon is fincere and upright in all 
his relations. And Firft, he is jult to his Country; 
as when he is fet at an armour, or horfe, he borrows 
them not to ferve the turn, nor provides flight, and 
unufeful, but fuch as are every way fitting to do his 
Country true and laudable fervice, when occafion re- 
quires. To do otherwife, is deceit ; and therefore, not 
for him, who is hearty, and true in all his ways, as being 
the fervant of Him, in whom there was no guile. Like- 
wife in any other Country-duty, he confiders what is 
the end of any Command, and then he fuits things 

* It was a faying of Archbifhop Ufher, — " If good people 
would but make goodnefs agreeable, and {mile inftead of frown- 
ing in their virtue, how many they would win to the good caufe." 



254 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

faithfully according to that end. Secondly, he carries 
himfelf very refpectively, as to all the Fathers of the 
Church, fo efpecially to his Diocefan, honouring him 
both in word and behaviour, and reforting unto him in 
any difficulty, either in his ftudies or in his parifh. He 
obferves Vifitations, and being there, makes due ufe of 
them, as of Clergy Councils, for the benefit of the 
Diocefe. And therefore before he comes, having ob- 
ferved fome defects in the Miniftry, he then either in 
fermon, if he preach, or at fome other time of the day, 
propounds among his Brethren what were fitting to be 
done. Thirdly, he keeps good Correfpondence with 
all the neighbouring Paftors round about him, perform- 
ing for them any Minifterial Office, which is not to the 
prejudice of his own Parifn. Likewife he welcomes to 
his houfe any Minifter, how poor or mean foever, with 
as joyful a countenance, as if he were to entertain fome 
great Lord. Fourthly, he fulfils the duty, and debt of 
neighbourhood to all the parifhes which are near him. 
For the apoftle's rule, Philip, iv. being admirable, and 
large, that "we mould do whatfoever things are honeft, 
or juft, or pure, or lovely, or of good report, if there be 
any virtue, or any praife ;" and Neighbourhood being 
ever reputed, even among the Heathen, as an obliga- 
tion to do good, rather than to thofe that are further, 
where things are otherwife equal, therefore he fatiffies 
this duty alfo. Efpecially, if God have fent any calamity 
either by fire or famine, to any neighbouring Parifh, 
then he expects no Brief; but taking his Parifh together 
the next Sunday, or Holy-day, and expofing to them 
the uncertainty of human affairs, none knowing whofe 
turn may be next, and then when he hath affrighted 
them with this, expofing the obligation of Charity, and 
neighbourhood, he firft gives himfelf liberally, and then 
incites them to give ; making together a fum either to 
be fent, or, which were more comfortable, all together 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 255 

choofing fome fit day to carry it themfelves, and cheer 
the Afflicted. So, if any neighbouring village be over- 
burdened with poor, and his own lefs charged, he finds 
fome way of relieving it, and reducing the Manna, and 
bread of Charity to fome equality, reprefenting to his 
people, that the BlefTing of God to them ought to make 
them the more charitable, and not the lefs, left he caft 
their neighbours' poverty on them alfo. 



Chap. XX. 



THE PARSON IN GOD'S STEAD. 

THE Country Parfon is in God's ftead to his Parifh, 
and difchargeth God what he can of his promifes, 
Wherefore there is nothing done either well or ill, 
whereof he is not the rewarder, or punifher. If he 
chance to find any reading in another's Bible, he pro- 
vides him one of his own. If he find another giving a 
poor man a penny, he gives him a tefter* for it, if the 
giver be fit to receive it : or if he be of a condition 
above fuch gifts, he fends him a good Book, or eafeth 
him in his tithes, telling him when he hath forgotten it, 
This I do, becaufe at fuch and fuch a time you were 
charitable. This is in fome fort a difcharging of God; 
as concerning this life, who hath promifed, that Godli- 
nefs fhall be gainful : but in the other, God is his own 
immediate paymafter, rewarding all good deeds to their 

* Sixpence; often written "teftorne," as by Latimer, " I think 
truly all the town would come to celebrate the Communion to 
get a teftorne, but will not come to receive the body and blood of 
Chrift." 



256 Herbert's prose works. 

full proportion. " The parfon's punifhing of fin and 
vice is rather by withdrawing his bounty and courtefy 
from the parties offending, or by private or public 
reproof, as the cafe requires, than by caufing them to 
be prefented, or otherwife complained of. And yet, as 
the malice of the perfon, or heinoufnefs of the crime 
may be, he is careful to fee condign punifhment 
inflicted, and with truly godly zeal, without hatred to 
the perfon, hungreth and thirfteth after righteous 
punimment of unrighteoufnefs. Thus both in rewarding 
virtue, and in punifhing vice, the Parfon endeavoureth 
to be in God's ftead, knowing that Country people are 
drawn or led by fenfe, more than by faith, by prefent 
rewards or punifhments, more than by future." 



Chap. XXL 

THE PARSON'S CATECHISING.* 

THE Country Parfon values catechifing highly : 
For there being Three points of his Duty ; The 
one, to infufe a competent knowledge of falvation in 
every one of his flock ; The other, to multiply and 
build up this knowledge to a fpiritual Temple ; The 
third, to inflame this knowledge, to prefs, and drive it 
to practice, turning it to reformation of life, by pithy 
and lively exhortations ; Catechifing is the firft point, 

* It is told by Nelfon, of Bifhop Bull, that he was fo earneft 
and fucceffful in catechifing his people, le&uring the old, by 
inviting them to be prefent at the inftruclion of the young, that 
to one vifitation of the Bifhop he carried with him fifty well- 
inftruclied perfons to be confirmed, out of a parifh confifting of 
thirty families. — See Works of Bull (Oxford edit.) i. 52. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 257 

and but by Catechifing, the other cannot be attained. 
Befides, whereas in Sermons there is a kind of (late, 
in Catechifing there is an humblencfs very fuitable to 
Chriftian regeneration ; which exceedingly delights 
him as by way of exercife upon himfelf, and by way of 
preaching to himfelf, for the advancing of his own 
mortification : For in preaching to others, he forgets 
not himfelf, but is firft a Sermon to himfelf, and then 
to others ; growing with the growth of his Parifh. He 
ufeth and preferreth the ordinary Church Catechifm, 
partly for obedience to Authority, partly for Uniformitv 
fake, that the fame common truths may be every where 
profefTed, efpecially fince many remove from Parifh to 
Parifh., who like Chriftian Soldiers, are to give the 
word, and to fatiffy the Congregation by their Catholic 
anfwers. He exacts of all the Doctrine of the Cate- 
chifm ; of the younger fort, the very words ; of the 
elder, the fubftance."* Thofc he Catechifeth publicly, 
thefe privately, giving age honour, according to the 
Apoftle's rule, i Tim. v. I. He requires all to be 
prefent at catechifing : Firft, for the Authority of the 
work ; Secondly, that Parents, and Matters, as they 
hear the anfwers prove, may when they come home, 
either commend or reprove, either reward or punifh. 
Thirdly, that thofe of the elder fort, who are not well 
grounded, may then by an honourable way take occa- 
fion to be better inftructed. Fourthly, that thofe who 
are well grounded in the knowledge of Religion, may 



* " It is a great error to think that the Catechifm was made 
for children only : for all Chriftians are equally concerned in 
thofe laving truths which are there taught ; and the doctrine 
delivered in the Catechifm is as pioper for the ftudy, and as ne- 
ceflary for the falvation of a great doctor, as of a weak Chriftian, 
or a young child." — Bishop Ken's Expolition, Profe Works, 
(Round) p. 339. 

S 



258 Herbert's prose works. 

examine their grounds, renew their vows, and by 
occafion of both, enlarge their meditations. When 
once all have learned the words of the Catechifm, he 
thinks it the moll: ufeful way that a Paftor can take, to 
go over the fame, but in other words : for many fay the 
Catechifm by rote, as Parrots, without ever piercing 
into the fenfe of it. In this courfe the order of the 
Catechifm would be kept, but the reft varied : as thus, 
in the Creed : How came this world to be as it is ? 
Was it made, or came it by chance ? Who made it ? 
Did you fee God make it? Then are there fome 
things to be believed that are not feen ? Is this the 
nature of belief? Is not Chriftianity full of fuch 
things, as are not to be feen, but believed ? You faid, 
God made the world ; Who is God ? And fo forward, 
requiring Anfwers to all thefe, and helping and cherifh- 
ing the Anfwerer, by making the Queftions very plain 
with comparifons, and making much even of a word of 
truth from him. This order being ufed to one, would 
be a little varied to another. And this is an admirable 
way of teaching, wherein the Catechifed will at length 
find delight, and by which the Catechizer, if he once 
get the fkill of it, will draw out of ignorant and filly 
fouls, even the dark and deep points of Religion. 
Socrates did thus in philofophy, who held that the feeds 
of all truths lay in every body, and accordingly, by 
queftions well ordered, he found Philofophy in filly 
Tradefmen. That pofition will not hold in Chriftianity, 
becaufe it contains things above nature : but after that 
the Catechifm is once learned, that which nature is 
towards Philofophy, the Catechifm is towards Divinity. 
To this purpofe, fome Dialogues in Plato were worth 
the reading, where the fingular dexterity of Socrates in 
this kind may be obferved, and imitated. Yet the fkill 
confifts but in thefe three points : Firft, an aim and 
mark of the whole difcourfe, whither to drive the 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 259 

Anfwerer, which the Queftionift muft have in his 
mind before any queftion be propounded, upon which 
and to which the queftions are to be chained. Secondly, 
a mofl plain and eafy framing the queftion, even con- 
taining, in virtue, the anfwer alfo, efpecially to the 
more ignorant, Thirdly, when the anfwerer fticks, an 
illuftrating the thing by fomething elfe, which he 
knows, making what he knows to ferve him in that 
which he knows not : as, when the Parfon once 
demanded, after other queftions about man's mifery ; 
fince man is fo miferable, what is to be done ? And 
the Anfwerer could not tell ; he afked him again, 
what he would do if he were in a ditch ? This fami- 
liar illuftration made the anfwer fo plain, that he was 
even afhamed of his ignorance ; for he could not but 
fay, he would hafte out of it as faft as he could. Then 
he proceeded to afk, whether he could get out of the 
ditch alone, or whether he needed a helper, and who 
was that helper. This is the (kill, and doubtlefs the 
Holy Scripture intends thus much, when it condefcends 
to the naming of a plough, a hatchet, a buiriel, leaven, 
boys piping and dancing ; (hewing that things of ordi- 
nary ufe are not only to ferve in the way of drudgery, 
but to be wa(hed and cleanfed, and ferve for lights even 
of Heavenly Truths. This is the Practice which the 
Parfon fo much commends to all his fellow-labourers ; 
the fecret of whofe good confifts in this ; that at Ser- 
mons and Prayers men may fleep,or wander ; but when 
one is afked a queftion, he muft difcover what he is. 
This practice exceeds even Sermons in teaching : But 
there being two things in Sermons, the one Informing, 
the other Inflaming ; as Sermons come (hort of quef- 
tions in the one, fo they far exceed them in the other. 
For queftions cannot inflame or ravifh, that muft be 
done by a fet, and laboured, and continued fpeech. 

s 2 



260 Herbert's prose works. 

Chap. XXII. 

THE PARSON IN SACRAMENTS. 

THE Country Parfon being to adminifter the Sacra- 
ments, is at a ftand with himfelf, how or what 
behaviour to affume for fo Holy things. Efpecially at 
Communion times he is in a great confufion, as being 
not only to receive God, but to break and adminifter 
him. Neither finds he any iffue in this, but to throw 
himfelf down at the throne of Grace, faying, " Lord, 
thou knoweft what thou didft, when thou appointedft 
it to be done thus ; therefore do thou fulfil what thou 
didft appoint ; for thou art not only the feaft, but the 
way to it." At Baptifm, being himfelf in white, he 
requires the prefence of all, and Baptizeth not will- 
ingly, but on Sundays, or great days. He admits no 
vain or idle names, but fuch as are ufual and ac- 
cuftomed.* He fays that prayer with great devotion, 
where God is thanked for calling us to the knowledge 
of his grace, Baptifm being a blefling, that the world 
hath not the like. He willingly and cheerfully croffeth 
the child, and thinketh the ceremony not only inno- 
cent, but reverend. He inftructeth the Godfathers, 
and Godmothers, that it is no complimental or light 
thing to fuftain that place, but a great honour, and no 

* " Pride lives with all ; ftrange names our nifties give 
To helplefs infants, that their own may live ; 
Pleafed to be known, they'll fome attention claim, 
And find fome by-way to the houfe of fame. 
6 Why Lonicera, wilt thou name thy child r' 
I afked the gardener's wife in accents mild ; 
' We have a right, 1 replied the fturdy dame ; 
And Lonicera was the infant's name. 11 

Crabbe, The Parifh Regifter, Pt. i. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 261 

lefs burden, as being done both in the pretence of 

God, and his Saints, and by way of undertaking for 
a Chriftian foul. He advifeth all to call to mind their 
Baptifm often ; for if wife men have thought it the 
heft way of preferving a State to reduce it to its prin- 
ciples by which it grew great ; certainly it is the fafeft 
courfc for Chriftians alfo to meditate on their Baptifm 
often (being the firft ftep into their great and glorious 
calling) and upon what terms, and with what vows 
they were Baptized. At the times of the Holy Com- 
munion, he Firft takes order with the Church- Wardens, 
that the elements be of the beft, not cheap, or coarfe, 
much lefs ill-tafted, or unwholefome. Secondly, he 
confiders and looks into the ignorance or careleffhefs 
of his flock, and accordingly applies himfelf with 
Catechizings and lively exhortations, not on the Sun- 
day of the Communion only (for then it is too late) 
but the Sunday, or Sundays before the Communion, or 
on the Eves of all thofe days. If there be any, who 
having not received yet, is to enter into this great 
Work, he takes the more pains with them, that he 
may lay the foundation of future Bleflings. The time 
of every one's firft receiving is not fo much by years, 
as by underftanding: particularly the Rule may be this : 
When any one can diftinguifh the facramental from 
common bread, knowing the inftitution, and the differ- 
ence, he ought to receive, of what age foever. Chil- 
dren and youths are ufually deferred too long, under 
pretence of devotion to the Sacrament, but it is for 
want of Inftruc~tion ; their understandings being ripe 
enough for ill things, and why not then for better ? 
But Parents and Mafters mould make hafte in this, as 
to a great purchafe for their children and fervants ; 
which while they defer, both fides fuffer ; the one, 
in wanting many excitings of grace, the other, in 
being worfe ferved and obeyed. The faying of the 



262 Herbert's prose works. 

Catechifm is neceflary, but not enough ; becaufe to 
anfwer in form may ftill admit ignorance : but the 
Queftions muft be propounded loofely and wildly, and 
then the Anfwerer will difcover what he is. Thirdly, 
for the manner of receiving, as the Parfon ufeth all 
reverence himfelf, fo he adminifters to none but to 
the reverent. The feaft indeed requires fitting, be- 
caufe it is a Feaft ; but man's unpreparednefs afks 
kneeling. He that comes to the Sacrament, hath the 
confidence of a Gueft, and he that kneels, confefleth 
himfelf an unworthy one, and therefore differs from other 
Feafters : but he that fits, or lies, puts up to an 
Apoftle : Contentioufnefs in a feaft of Charity is more 
fcandal than any pofture. Fourthly, Touching the 
frequency of the Communion, the Parfon celebrates it, 
if not duly once a month, yet at leaft five or fix times 
in the year : as, at Eafter, Chriftmas, Whitfuntide, 
before and after Harveft, and the beginning of Lent. 
And this he doth, not only for the benefit of the work, 
but alfo for the difcharge of the Church-Wardens, who 
being to prefent all that receive not thrice a year ; if 
there be but three Communions, neither can all the 
people fo order their affairs as to receive juft at thofe 
times, nor the Church-Wardens fo well take notice 
who receive thrice, and who not. 



Chap. XXIII. 

THE PARSON'S COMPLETENESS. 

THE Country Parfon defires to be All to his 
Pariih, and not only a Paftor, but a Lawyer alfo, 
and a Phyfician. Therefore he endures not that any 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 263 

of his flock fhould go to Law; but in any Contro- 
verfy, that they fhould rcfort to him as their judge. 
To this end, he hath gotten to himfelf fome in fight in 
things ordinarily incident and controverted, by expe- 
rience, and by reading fome initiatory Treatifes in the 
Law, with Dalton's* Juftice of Peace, and the Abridg- 
ments of the Statutes, as alfo by difcourfe with men of 
that profemon, whom he hath ever fome cafes to afk, 
when he meets with them ; holding that rule, that to 
put men to difcourfe of that, wherein they are moft 
eminent, is the moft gainful way of Converfation. 
Yet whenever any controverfy is brought to him, he 
never decides it alone ; but fends for three or four of 
the ableft of the Parifh to hear the caufe with him, 
whom he makes to deliver their opinion firft ; out of 
which he gathers, in cafe he be ignorant himfelf, what 
to hold ; and fo the thing paffeth with more authority, 
and lefs envy ; in judging he follows that, which is 
altogether right : fo that if the pooreft man of the 
Parifh detain but a pin unjuftly from the richeft, 
he abfolutely reftores it as a Judge ; but when he 
hath fo done, then he affumes the Parfon, and ex- 
horts to Charity. Neverthelefs, there may happen 
fometimes fome cafes, wherein he choofeth to permit 
his Parifhioners rather to make ufe of the Law than 
himfelf: As in cafes of an obfeure and dark nature, 
not eafily determinable by Lawyers themfelves ; or in 
cafes of high confequence, as eftablifhing of inheri- 
tances : or Laftly, when the perfons are of a conten- 
tious difpofition, and cannot be gained, but that they 
ftill fall from all compromifes that have been made. 
But then he mews them how to go to Law, even as 
Brethren, and not as enemies, neither avoiding there- 

* Michael Dalton, born 1554, died about the time of the Civil 
War j he wrote the ( Burns's Juitice of the 17th century. 



264 Herbert's prose works 

fore one another's company, much lefs defaming one 
another. Now as the Parfon is in Law, fo is he in fick- 
nefs alfo : if there be any of his flock fick, he is their 
Phyfician, or at leaft his Wife, of whom, inftead of the 
qualities of the world, he afks no other, but to have 
the fkill of healing a wound, or helping the fick. But 
if neither himfelf, nor his Wife have the fkill, and his 
means ferve, he keeps fome young practitioner in his 
houfe for the benefit of his pariih, whom yet he ever 
exhorts not to exceed his bounds, but in difficult cafes 
to call in help. If all fail, then he keeps good corre- 
fpondence with fome neighbour Phyfician, and enter- 
tains him for the Cure of his Parifh. Yet it is eafy 
for any Scholar to attain to fuch a meafure of Phyfic, 
as may be of much ufe to him both for himfelf, and 
others. This is done by feeing one Anatomy, reading 
one Book of Phyfic, having one Herbal by him. And 
let Fernelius* be the Phyfic Author, for he writes 
briefly, neatly, and judicioufly : efpecially let his 
method of Phyfic be diligently perufed, as being 
the practical part, and of moft ufe. Now both the 
reading of him, and the knowing of herbs may 
be done at fuch times, as they may be a help and 
a recreation, to more divine ftudies, Nature ferving 
Grace both in comfort of diverfion, and the benefit 
of application, when need requires : as alfo, by 
way of illuftration, even as our Saviour made plants 
and feeds to teach the people : for he was the true 
houfeholder, who bringeth out of his treafure things 
new and old ; the old things of Philofophy, and the 
new of Grace ; and maketh the one ferve the other. 
And I conceive, our Saviour did this for Three 
Reafons : Firft, that bv familiar things he might make 

* John Francis Fernel, phyfician to Henry II. of France $ 
born about 1506, died 1558. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLB. 

his Doctrine flip the more cafily into the hearts even 
of the meaneft. Secondly, that labouring people 
(whom he chiefly confidered) might have every where 
monuments of his Doctrine, remembering in Gardens, 
his Muftard-feed, and Lilies ; in the Field, his Seed- 
Corn, and Tares ; and fo not be drowned altogether m 
the works of their vocation, but fometimes lift up their 
minds to better things, even in the midft of their pains. 
Thirdly, that he might fet a copy for Parfons. In the 
knowledge of fimples, wherein the manifold wifdom of 
God is wonderfully to be feen, one thing mould be 
carefully obferved ; which is to know what herbs may 
be ufed inftead of drugs of the fame nature, and to 
make the garden the (hop : for home-bred medicines 
are both more eafy for the Parfon's Purfe, and more 
familiar for all men's bodies. So, where the Apothe- 
cary ufeth either for loofing, Rhubarb ; or for binding, 
Bolearmena, the Parfon ufeth Damafk or white Rofes 
for the one, and Plaintain, Shepherd's purfe, Knot-grafs, 
for the other, and that with better fuccefs. As for 
fpices, he doth not only prefer home-bred things before 
them, but condemns them for vanities, and fo fhuts 
them out of his Family, efteeming that there is no 
Spice comparable, for Herbs, to Rofemary, Thyme, 
Savory, Mints ; and for Seeds, to Fennel, and Carra- 
way feeds. Accordingly for Salves, his Wife feeks 
not the City, but prefers her Garden and Fields, before 
all Outlandifh Gums. And furely Hyflbp, Valerian, 
Mercury, Adder's tongue, Verrow, Melilot, and St. 
John's-wort made into a Salve ; and Elder, Camomile, 
Mallows, Comphrey and Smallage made into a Poultice, 
have done great and rare Cures. In curing of any, 
the Parfon and his Family ufe to premife prayers, for 
this is to cure like a Parfon, and this raiicth the a£tion 
from the fhop, to the church. But though the Parfon 
fets forward all charitable deeds, yet he looks not in 



266 Herbert's prose works. 

this point of curing beyond his own parifh, except the 
perfon be fo poor, that he is not able to reward the 
Phyfician : for as he is charitable, fo he is juft alfo. 
Now it is a juftice and debt to the Commonwealth he 
lives in, not to encroach on others' Profeffions, but to 
live on his own. And juftice is the ground of Charity. 



Chap. XXIV. 

THE PARSON'S ARGUING. 

THE Country Parfon, if there be any of his Parifh 
that hold ftrange Doctrines, ufeth all poffible 
diligence to reduce them to the Common Faith. The 
Firft means he ufeth is Prayer, befeeching the Father 
of lights to open their eyes, and to give him power fo 
to fit his difcourfe to them, that it may effectually pierce 
their hearts, and convert them. The fecond means is 
a very loving, and fweet ufage of them, both in going 
to, and fending for them often, and in finding out 
courtefies to place on them ; as in their Tithes, or 
otherwife. The third means is the Obfervation, what 
is the main Foundation and Pillar of their caufe, 
whereon they rely ; as if he be a Papift, the Church is 
the hinge he turns on ; if a Schifmatic, fcandal.* 
Wherefore the Parfon hath diligently examined thefe 
two with himfelf, as " What the Church is, How it 
began ; how it proceeded ; whether it be a rule to 
itfelf; whether it hath a rule ; whether having a rule, 
it ought not to be guided by it j whether any rule in 

* He ufes the word in its true fenfe of a ftumbling-block in 
the road. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 267 

the world be obfcure ; and how then fhould the beft be 
fo, at leaft in fundamental things ; the obfcurity in 
fome points being the exercife of the Church, the light 
in the foundations being the guide ; The church need- 
ing both an evidence and an exercife. So for Scandal : 
What fcandal is, when given or taken ; whether there 
being two precepts, one of obeying authority, the other 
of not giving fcandal, that ought not to be preferred, 
efpecially fince in difobeying there is fcandal alfo : 
whether things once indifferent, being made by the 
precept of Authority more than indifferent, it be in our 
power to omit or refufe them." Thefe and the like 
points he hath accurately digefted, having ever befides 
two great helps and powerful perfuaders on his fide ; 
the one, a ftricT: religious life ; the other an humble and 
ingenuous fearch of truth, being unmoved in arguing, 
and void of all contentioufnefs : which are two great 
lights able to dazzle the eyes of the milled, while they 
confider, that God cannot be wanting to them in 
Doclrine, to whom he is fo gracious in Life. 



Chap. XXV. 

THE PARSON PUNISHING. 

WHENSOEVER the Country Parfon proceeds 
fo far as to call in Authority, and to do fuch 
things of legal oppofition either in the prefenting or 
punifliing of any, as the vulgar ever conftrues for figns 
of ill-will : he forbears not in any wife to ufe the delin- 
quent as before, in his behaviour and carriage towards 
him, not avoiding his company, or doing anything of 
averfenefs, fave in the very acl: of punifhment : neither 



268 Herbert's prose works. 

doth he efteem him for an enemy, but as a brother ftill, 
except fome fmall and temporary eftranging may 
corroborate the punifliment to a better fubduing and 
humbling of the delinquent ; which if it happily take 
effect, he then comes on the fafter, and makes fo 
much the more of him, as before he alienated himfelf; 
doubling his regards, and fhewing by all means, that 
the delinquent's return is to his advantage. 



Chap. XXVI. 

THE PARSON'S EYE. 

THE Country Parfon at fpare times from action, 
ftanding on a Hill, and confidering his Flock, 
diicovers two forts of vices, and two forts of vicious 
perfons. There are fome vices, whofe natures are 
always clear, and evident, as Adultery, Murder, Hatred, 
Lying, &c. There are other vices, whofe natures, at 
leaft in the beginning, are dark and obfcure ; as Cove- 
toufnefs, and Gluttony. So likewife there are fome 
perfons, who abftain not even from known fins -, there 
are others, who when they know a fin evidently, they 
commit it not. It is true, indeed, they are long a 
knowing it, being partial to themfelves, and witty to 
others who fhall reprove them for it. A man may be 
both covetous, and Intemperate, and yet hear Sermons 
againft both, and himfelf condemn both in good earneft : 
and the reafon hereof is, becaufe the natures of thefe 
vices being not evidently difcuffed or known commonly, 
the beginnings of them are not eafily obfervable : and 
the beginnings of them are not obferved, becaufe of the 
fudden palling from that which was juft now lawful, to 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 269 

that which is prefently unlawful, even in one continued 
action. So a man dining, eats at firft lawfully -, but 
proceeding on, comes to do unlawfully, even before he 
is aware ; not knowing the bounds of the action, nor 
when his eating begins to be unlawful. So a man 
ftoring up money for his neceiTary provifions, both in 
prefent for his family, and in future for his children, 
hardly perceives when his ftoring becomes unlawful : 
yet is there a period for his ftoring, and a point, or 
centre, when his ftoring, which was even now good, 
pafleth from good to bad. Wherefore the Parfon being 
true to his bufinefs, hath exactly fifted the definitions 
of all virtues and vices ; efpecially canvafting thofe, 
whofe natures are moft ftealing, and beginnings uncer- 
tain. Particularly, concerning thefe two vices, not 
becaufe they are all that are of this dark and creeping 
difpofition, but for example fake, and becaufe they are 
moft common, he thus thinks : Firft, for Covetouf- 
nefs, he lays this ground : Whofoever when a juft 
occafion calls, either fpends not at all, or not in fome pro- 
portion to God's blefting upon him, is covetous. The 
reafon of the ground is manifeft, becaufe wealth is 
given to that end, to fupply our occafions. Now, if 
1 do not give every thing its end, I abufe the creature, 
I am falfe to my reafon which fhould guide me, I 
offend the fupreme Judge, in perverting that order 
which he hath fet both to things, and to reafon. The 
application of the ground would be infinite ; but in 
brief, a poor man is an occafion, my Country is an 
occafion, my friend is an occafion, my Table is an 
occafion, my apparel is an occafion : if in all thefe, 
and thofe more which concern me, I either do nothing, 
or pinch, and fcrape, and fqueeze blood indecently to 
the ftation wherein God hath placed me, I am Covet- 
ous. More particularly, and to give one inftance for 
all, if God have given me fervants, and I either pro- 



27O HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

vide too little for them, or that which is unwholefome, 
being fometimes baned * meat, fometimes too fait, and 
and fo not competent nourifhment, I am Covetous. 
I bring this example, becaufe men ufually think, that 
fervants for their money are as other things that they 
buy, even as a piece of wood, which they may cut, or 
hack, or throw into the fire, and fo they pay them their 
wages, all is well. Nay, to defcend yet more par- 
ticularly, if a man have wherewithal to buy a fpade, 
and yet he choofeth rather to ufe his neighbour's, and 
wear out that, he is covetous. Neverthelefs, few 
bring covetoufnefs thus low, or confide r it fo narrowly, 
which yet ought to be done, fince " there is a juftice 
in the leaft things, and for the leaft there mail be 
a judgment." Country people are full of thefe petty 
injuftices, being cunning to make ufe of another and 
fpare themfelves : And Scholars ought to be diligent 
in the obfervation of thefe, and driving of their general 
School-rules ever to the fmalleft actions of Life ; which 
while they dwell in their Books, they will never find ; 
but being feated in the Country, and doing their duty 
faithfully, they will foon difcover : efpecially if they 
carry their eyes ever open, and fix them on their 
charge, and not on their preferment. Secondly, for 
Gluttony, The Parfon lays this ground, He that either 
for quantity eats more than his health or employments 
will bear, or for quality is lickeriih after dainties, is a 
Glutton ; as he that eats more than his eftate will bear, 
is a Prodigal : and he that eats ofFenfively to the Com- 
pany, either in his order, or length of eating, is fcan- 
dalous and uncharitable. Thefe three rules generally 
comprehend the faults of " eating, and the truth of 
" them needs no proof: fo that men muft eat, neither 
to the disturbance of their health, nor of their affairs, 

* Poifoned, or corrupted. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 27I 

which, being over-burdened or ftudying dainties too 
much, they cannot well difpatch), nor of their eftate, 
nor of their brethren." One act in thefe things is 
bad, but it is the cuftom and habit that names a Glutton. 
Many think they are more at liberty than they are, as 
if they were Mafters of their health, and fo they will 
ftand to the pain, all is well. But to eat to one's hurt 
comprehends, befides the hurt, an act againft reafbn, 
becaufe it is unnatural to hurt onefelf ; and this they 
are not Mafters of. Yet of hurtful things, I am more 
bound to abftain from thofe, which by my own expe- 
rience I have found hurtful, than from thofe which by 
a common tradition, and vulgar knowledge are reputed 
to be fo. That which is faid of hurtful meats extends 
to hurtful drinks also. As for the quantity, touching 
our employments, none muft eat fo as to difable them- 
felves from a fit difcharging either of Divine duties, or 
duties of their calling. So that if after Dinner they are 
not fit (or unwieldy) either to pray, or work, they are 
Gluttons. Not that all muft prefently work after Din- 
ner, for they rather muft not work, (especially Students, 
and thofe that are weakly); but that they muft rife fo, 
as that it is not meat, or drink, that hinders them from 
working. To guide them in this, there are Three 
Rules : Firft, the cuftom and knowledge of their own 
body, and what it can well digeft : The fecond, the 
feeling of themfelves in time of eating, which, becaufe 
it is deceitful, (for one thinks in eating, that he can 
eat more, than afterwards he finds true): — The third is 
the obfervation with what appetite they fit down. This 
laft rule joined with the firft, never fails. For know- 
ing what one ufually can well digeft, and feeling when 
I go to meat in what difpofition I am, either hungry or 
not, according as I feel myfelf, either I take my wonted 
proportion, or diminim of it. Yet Phyficians bid thofe 
that would live in health, not keep a uniform diet, but 



2J2 HERBERT s PROSE WORKS. 

to feed variouily, now more, now lefs : and Gerfon,^ 
a fpiritual man, wifheth all to incline rather to too 
much, than to too little ; his reafon is, becaufe dif- 
eafes of exinanition are more dangerous than difeafes of 
repletion. But the Parfon diftinguifheth according to 
his double aim, either of Abftinence a Moral virtue, or 
Mortification a Divine. When he deals with any that 
is heavy and carnal, he gives him thofe freer rules ; 
but when he meets with a refined, and heavenly dif- 
pofition, he carries them higher, even fometimes to a 
forgetting of themfelves, knowing that there is One, 
who, when they forget, remembers for them ; As when 
the people hungered and thirfted after our Saviour's 
Doctrine, and tarried fo long at it, that they would 
have fainted had they returned empty, he fuffered it 
not ; but rather made food miraculouily, than fufrered 
fo good defires to mifcarry. 



Chap. XXVII. 

THE PARSON IN MIRTH. 

THE Country Parfon is generally fad, becaufe he 
knows nothing but the Crofs of Chrift, his mind 
being defixed on it, with thofe nails wherewith his 
Mafter was : or if he have any leifure to look off 
from thence, he meets continually with two moft fad 
fpectacles, Sin and Mifery; God dimonoured every 
day -, and man afflicted. Neverthelefs, he fometimes 

* A very celebrated Frenchman (b. 1363, d. 1429), who re- 
ceived the title of " Molt Chriftian Doctor." Du Pin edited his 
works, in five volumes. Cave, writing fifty years after Herbert's 
death, promifes abundant fruit to the ftudent of Gerfon. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 2J'^ 

refrefheth himfelf, as knowing that Nature will not 
bear cverlafting droopings, and that pleafantnefs of 
difpofition is a great key to do good ; not only becaufe 
all men fhun the company of perpetual feverity, hut 
alio for that when they are in company, inftrudtions 
feafoned with pleafantnefs, both enter fooner, and root 
deeper. Wherefore he condefcends to human frailties 
both in himfelf and others ; and intermingles fome 
mirth in his difcourfes occafionally, according to the 
pulfe of the hearer 



Chap. XXVIII. 

THE PARSON IN CONTEMPT. 

THE Country Parfon knows well, that both for 
the general ignominy which is caft upon the pro- 
fefiion, and much more for thofe rules, which out of 
his choiceft judgment, he hath refolved to obferve, and 
which are defcribed in this Book, he muft be defpifed ; 
becaufe this hath been the portion of God his Mafter, 
and of God's Saints his Brethren, and this is foretold, 
that it mall be fo ftill, until things be no more. Never- 
thelcfs, according to the Apoftle's rule, he endeavours 
that none (hall defpife him ; efpecially in his own 
Parifh, he fuffers it not to his utmoft power ; for that, 
where contempt is, there is no room for inftruction. 
This he procures, Firft, by his Holy and unblameable 
life ; which carries a reverence with it, even above 
contempt. Secondly, by a courteous carriage, and 
winning behaviour : he that will be refpected, muft 
refpecl: ; doing kindneffes, but receiving none ; at leaft 
of thofe, who are apt to defpife : for this argues a 
height and eminency of mind, which is not eafily 

T 



274 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

defpifed, except it degenerate to pride. Thirdly, by a 
bold and impartial reproof, even of the beft in the 
Parifh, when occafion requires : for this may produce 
hatred in thofe that are reproved, but never- contempt 
either in them, or others.* Laftly, if the contempt 
mall proceed fo far as to do any thing punifhable by 
Law, as contempt is apt to do, if it be not thwarted, 
the Parfon having a due refpect both to the perfon and 
to the caufe, referreth the whole matter to the exami- 
nation and punifhment of thofe which are in Authority ; 
that fo the fentence lighting upon one, the example 
may reach to all. But if the Contempt be not punifh- 
able by Law, or being fo, the Parfon think it in his 
difcretion either unfit, or bootlefs to contend, then 
when any defpifes him, he takes it either in an humble 
way, faying nothing at all ; or elfe in a flighting way, 
fhewing that reproaches touch him no more, than a 
ftone thrown againft heaven, where he is, and lives ; 
or in a fad way, grieved at his own, and others' fins, 
which continually break God's Laws, and difhonour 
him with thofe mouths, which he continually fills, and 
feeds : or elfe, in a doctrinal way, faying to the con- 
temner, Alas, why do you thus ? you hurt yourfelf, 
not me ; he that throws a ftone at another, hits him- 
felf ; and fo, between gentle reafoning, and pitying, he 
overcomes the evil : or laftly, in a Triumphant way, 
being glad, and joyful, that he is made conformable to 
his Mafter ; and being in the world as he was, hath 
this undoubted pledge of his falvation. Thefe are the 
five fhields, wherewith the godly receive the darts of 



* There was not a man in his way (be he of what rank he 
would) that fpoke awry, (in order to God) but he wiped his 
mouth with a modeft grace and Chriftian reproof. And that he 
did this, I have heard from true reporters. 1 '* — Barnabas Oley, 
Preface to Country Parfon, 1652. 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 2J5 

the wicked ; leaving anger, and retorting, and revenge 
to the children of the world, whom another's ill maf- 
tereth, and leadeth captive without any refinance, even 
in refiftance, to the fame deftruction. For while they 
refift the perfon that reviles, they refift not the evil 
which takes hold of them, and is far the worft enemy. 



Chap. XXIX. 

THE PARSON WITH HIS 
C H U R C H-WA R D E N S. 

THE Country Parfon doth often, both publickly 
and privately, inftrudt his Church-Wardens, what 
a great Charge lies upon them, and that indeed the 
whole order and difcipline of the parifh is put into 
their hands. If himfelf reform any thing, it is out of 
the overflowing of his Confcience, whereas they are 
to do it by Command, and by Oath. Neither hath 
the place its dignity from the Ecclefiaftical Laws only, 
fince even by the Common Statute-Law, they are 
taken for a kind of Corporation, as being perfons 
enabled by that Name to take moveable goods, or 
chattels, and to fue, and to be fued at Law concerning 
fuch goods, for the ufe and profit of their Parifh : and 
by the fame Law they are to levy penalties for negli- 
gence in reforting to Church, or for diforderly carriage 
in time of Divine Service. Wherefore the Parfon 
fuffers not the place to be vilified or debafed, by being 
caft on the lower rank of people ; but invites and 
urges the beft unto it fhewing that they do not lofe, or 
go lefs, but gain by it ; it being the greateft honour of 

T 2 



276 Herbert's prose works. 

this world, to do God and his chofen fervice ; or as 
David fays, to be even a door-keeper in the houfe of 
God. Now the Canons being the Church- Warden's 
Rule, the Parfon advifeth them to read, or hear them 
often, asalfo the Vifitation Articles, which are grounded 
upon the Canons, that fo they may know their duty, 
and keep their Oath the better ; in which regard, con- 
sidering the great Confequence of their place, and 
more of their Oath, he wifheth them by no means to 
fpare any, though never fo great ; but if after gentle 
and neighbourly admonitions, they ftill perfift in ill, to 
prefent them ; yea though they be Tenants, or other- 
wife engaged to the delinquent : for their obligation to 
God, and their own foul, is above any temporal tie. 
Do well and right, and let the world fink. 



Chap. XXX. 



THE PARSON'S CONSIDERATION OF 
PROVIDENCE. 

THE Country Parfon, confidering the great aptnefs, 
Country people have to think that all things come 
by a kind of natural courfe ; and that if they fow and 
foil their grounds, they muft have corn ; if they keep 
and fodder well their cattle, they muft have milk, and 
Calves : labours to reduce them to fee God's hand in 
all things, and to believe, that things are not fet in fuch 
an inevitable order, but that God often changeth it 
according as he fees fit, either for reward or punilh- 
ment. To this end he reprefents to his flock, that 
God hath, and exercifeth a threefold Power in every 
thing which concerns man. The Firft is a fuftaining 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 277 

power ; the Second, a governing power : the Third, a 
Spiritual power. By his fuftaining power he preferves 

and actuates every thing in his being ; fo that corn doth 
not grow by any other virtue, than by that which he 
continually fupplies, as the corn needs it ; without 
which fupply the corn would inftantly dry up, as a 
river would, if the fountain were flopped. And it is 
obfervable, that if any thing could prefume of an 
inevitable courfe, and conflancy in their operations 
certainly it fhould be either the Sun in heaven, or the 
fire on earth, by reafon of their fierce, ftrong, and 
violent natures ; yet when God pleafed, the Sun flood 
ft ill, the fire burned not. By God's governing power 
he preferves and orders the references of things one to 
the other, fo that though the corn do grow, and be 
preferved in that a£l by his fuftaining power, yet if he 
iuit not other things to the growth, as feafons, and 
weather, and other accidents, by his governing power, 
the faireftharvefts come to nothing. And it is obfervable, 
that God delights to have men feel, and acknowledge, 
and reverence his power, and therefore he often over- 
turns things, when they are thought pafl danger ; that 
is his time of interpofing : As when a Merchant hath 
a ifhip come home after many a ftorm, which it hath 
efcaped, he deftroys it fometimes in the very Haven ; 
or if the goods be houfed, a fire hath broken forth, and 
fuddenly confumed them. Now this he doth, that men 
mould perpetuate, and not break off* their acts of de- 
pendence, how fair foever the opportunities prefent 
themfelves. So that if a Farmer mould depend upon 
God all the year, and being ready to put hand to fickle, 
fhall then fecure himfclf, and think all cock fure ; * 
then God fends fuch weather, as lays the corn, and 

Quite certain 5 a phrafe traced from Skelton to Pope. 



278 Herbert's prose works. 

deftroys it : or if he depend on God further, even till 
he imbarn his corn, and then think all fure ; God 
fends a fire and confumes all that he hath : For that 
he ought not to break off*, but to continue his depend- 
ence on God, not only before the corn is inned, but 
after alfo ; and, indeed, to depend, and fear continually. 
The third power is fpiritual, by which God turns all 
outward blefiings to inward advantages. So that if a 
Farmer hath both a fair harveft, and that alfo well 
inned, and imbarned, and continuing fafe there ; yet if 
God give him not the Grace to ufe and utter this well, 
all his advantages are to his lofs. Better were his corn 
burnt, than not fpiritually improved. And it is ob- 
servable in this, how God's goodnefs ftrives with man's 
refractorinefs ; Man would fit down at this world, God 
bids him fell it, and purchafe a better ; Juft as a Father 
who hath in his hand an apple, and a piece of gold 
under it ; the Child comes, and with pulling, gets 
the apple out of his Father's hand : his Father bids 
him throw it away, and he will give him the gold for 
it, which the Child utterly refufing, eats it, and is 
troubled with worms : So is the carnal and wilful man 
with the worm of the grave in this world, and the 
worm of Confcience in the next. 



Chap. XXXI. 

THE PARSON IN LIBERTY. 

THE Country Parfon obferving the manifold wiles 
of Satan (who plays his part fometimes in drawing 
God's Servants from him, fometimes in perplexing 
them in the fervice of God) (lands fail in the Liberty 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 279 

wherewith Chrift hath made us free. This liberty he 
compaffeth by one Diftinction, and that is, of what is 
NecefTary, and what is Additionary. As for example : 
It is necefTary that all Chriftians mould pray twice 
a day, every day of the week, and four times on 
Sunday, if they be well. This is fo necefTary, and 
efTential to a Chriftian, that he cannot without this 
maintain himfelf in a Chriftian ftate. Befides this, 
the Godly have ever added fome hours of prayer, as at 
nine, or at three, or at midnight, or as they think fit, 
and fee caufe, or rather as God's fpirit leads them. 
But thefe prayers are not NecefTary, but Additionary. 
Now it fo happens, that the godly petitioner, upon fome 
emergent interruption in the day, or by overlleeping 
himfelf at night, omits his additionary prayer. Upon 
this his mind begins to be perplexed, and troubled, and 
Satan, who knows the exigent, blows the fire, endea- 
vouring to diforder the Chriftian, and put him out of 
his ftation, and to enlarge the perplexity, until it fpread, 
and taint his other duties of piety, which none can per- 
form fo well in trouble, as in calmnefs. Here the 
Parfon interpofeth with His Diftinction, and mews the 
perplexed Chriftian, that this prayer being additionary, 
not necefTary, taken in, not commanded, the omiilion 
thereof upon juft occafion ought by no means to trouble 
him. God knows the occafion, as well as he, and He 
is as a gracious Father, who more accepts a common 
courfe of devotion, than diflikes an occafional interrup- 
tion. And of this he is fo to aflure himfelf, as to admit 
no fcruple, but to go on as cheerfully, as if he had not 
been interrupted. By this it is evident that the Dif~ 
tinction is of fingular ufe and comfort, efpecially to 
pious minds, which are ever tender, and delicate. But 
here there are Two Cautions to be added. Firft, that 
this interruption proceed not out of flacknefs, or cold- 
nefs, which will appear if the Pious foul forefee and 



280 Herbert's prose works. 

prevent fuch interruptions, what he may, before they 
come, and when for all that they do come, he be 
a little affected therewith, but not afflicted, or troubled ; 
if he refent it to a miflike, but not a grief. Secondly, 
that this interruption proceed not out of fhame. As 
for example : A godly man, not out of fuperftition, but 
of reverence to God's houfe, refolves whenever he 
enters into a Church, to kneel down and pray, either 
bleffing God, that he will be pleafed to dwell among 
men ; or befeeching him, that whenever he repairs to 
his houfe, he may behave himfelf fo as befits fo great a 
prefence ; and this briefly. But it happens that near 
the place where he is to pray, he fpies fome fcoffing 
ruffian, who is likely to deride him for his pains : if he 
now, (hall either for fear or fhame, break his cuftom, 
he mall do paffing ill; fo much the rather ought he 
to proceed, as that by this he may take into his Prayer 
humiliation alfo. On the other fide, if I am to vifit 
the fick in hafte, and my neareft way lie through the 
Church, I will not doubt to go without flaying to pray 
there (but only, as I pafs, in my heart) becaufe this 
kind of Prayer is additionary, not necefTary, and the 
other duty overweighs it : So that if any fcruple arife, 
I will throw it away, and be moft confident, that God 
is not difpleafed. This diftinction may run through all 
Chriitian duties, and it is a great ftay and fettling to 
religious fouls. 



Chap. XXXII. 

THE PARSON'S SURVEYS. 

THE Country Parfon hath not only taken aparticular 
Survey of the faults of hisown Parilh,but ageneral 



A PRIEST TO TIIF. TEMPLE. 28 1 

alfo of the difeafes of the time, that fo, when his occa- 
fions carry him abroad, or bring ftrangers to him, he may 
be the better armed to encounter them. The great and 
national fin of this land he efteems to be idlenefs; great 
in itfelf, and great in Confequence : For when men have- 
nothing to do, then they fall to drink, to fleal, to whore, 
to feoff, to revile, to all forts of gamings. Come, fay 
they, we have nothing to do, let's go to the Tavern, or 
to the Stews, or what not ? Wherefore the Parfon 
ftrongly oppofeth this fin, wherefoever he goes- And 
becaufe Idlenefs is twofold, the one in having no calling, 
the other in walking careleiTly in our calling, he firft 
reprefents to every body the neceflity of a vocation. 
The reafon of this affertion is taken from the nature of 
man, wherein God hath placed two great inftruments, 
Reafon in the Soul, and a hand in the Body, as engage- 
ments of working ; fo that even in Paradife man had a 
Calling, and how much more out of Paradife, when the 
evils which he is now fubjecl: unto, may be prevented, 
or diverted by reafonable employment. Befides, even/ 
gift or ability is a talent to be accounted for, and to be 
improved to our Matter's Advantage. Yet it is alfo a 
debt to our country to have a Calling ; and it concerns 
the Commonwealth, that none mould be idle, but all 
bufied. Laftly, riches are the blemng of God, and the 
great inftxument of doing admirable good ; therefore all 
are to procure them honeftly and feafonably when they 
are not better employed. Now this reafon croffeth not 
our Saviour's precept of felling what we have, becaufe 
when we have fold all, and given it to the poor, we muft 
not be idle, but labour to get more, that we may give 
more, according to St. Paul's rule, Ephefians iv. 28 ; 
1 Theffalonians iv. II, 12. So that our Saviour's felling 
is fo far from crofting Saint Paul's working, that it rather 
eftablimeth it, fince they that have nothing, are fitted to 
work. Now becaufe the only oppofer to this Doctrine 



282 Herbert's prose works. 

is the Gallant, who is witty enough to abufe both others, 
and himfelf, and who is ready to afk, if he fhall mend 
fhoes, or what he fhall do ? — Therefore the Parfon un- 
moved, fheweth, that ingenuous and fit employment is 
never wanting to thofe that feek it. But if it mould be, 
the Affertion ftands thus : All are either to have a 
Calling, or prepare for it : He that hath or can have 
yet no employment, if he truly and ferioufly prepare 
for it, he is fafe and within bounds. Wherefore all are 
either prefently to enter into a Calling, if they be fit for 
it, and it for them \ or elfe to examine with care, and 
advice, what they are fitteft for, and to prepare for that 
with all diligence. But it will not be amifs in this ex- 
ceeding ufeful point to defcend to particulars; for exact- 
nefs lies in particulars. Men are either fingle, or married ; 
The married and houfekeeper hath his hands full, if he 
do what he ought to do. For there are two branches 
of his affairs ; firft, the improvement of his family, by 
bringing them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord ; 
and fecondly, the improvement of his grounds, by drown- 
ing, or draining, or flocking, or fencing, and ordering 
his land to the beft advantage both of himfelf and his 
neighbours. The Italian fays, None fouls his hands in 
his own bufinefs ; and it is an honeft, and juft care, fo 
it exceed not bounds, for everyone to employ himfelf to 
the advancement of his affairs, that he may have where- 
withal to do good. But his family is his beft care, to 
labour Chriftian fouls, and raife them to their height, 
even to heaven : to drefs and prune them, and take as 
much joy in a ftraight-growing child, or fervant, as a 
Gardener doth in a choice Tree. Could men find out 
this delight, they would feldom be from home ; whereas 
now, of any place they are leaft there. But if after all 
this care well difpatched, the houfekeeper's Family be 
fo fmall, and his dexterity fo great, that he have leifure 
to look out, the village or Parifn which either he lives 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 283 

in, or is near unto it, is his employment. He confiders 

every one there, and either helps them in particular, or 
hath general Propofitions to the whole Town or Hamlet, 
of advancing the public Stock, and managing Commons, 
or Woods, according as the place fuggefts. But if he 
may be of the Commiffion of Peace, there is nothing to 
that : No Commonwealth in the world hath a braver 
Inftitution than that of Juftices of the Peace : for it is 
both a fecurity to the King, who hath fo many difperfed 
Officers at his beck throughout the Kingdom, ac- 
countable for the public good ; and alfo an honourable 
employment of a Gentle, or Nobleman in the Coun- 
try he lives in, enabling him with power to do good, 
and to reftrain all thofe, who elfe might both trouble 
him and the whole State. Wherefore it behoves all, 
who are come to the gravity and ripenefs of judgment 
for fo excellent a Place, not to refufe, but rather to 
procure it. And whereas there are ufually three Ob- 
jections made againft the Place ; the one, the abufe of 
it, by taking petty Country bribes ; the other, the 
cafting of it on mean perfons, efpecially in fome Shires ; 
and laftly, the trouble of it : Thefe are fo far from 
deterring any good men from the place, that they kin- 
dle them rather to redeem the Dignity either from 
true faults, or unjuft afperfions. Now, for fmgle men, 
they are either Heirs, or younger Brothers : The Heirs 
are to prepare in all the fore-mentioned points againft 
the time of their practice. Therefore they are to mark 
their Father's difcretion in ordering his Houfe and 
Affairs ; and alfo elfewhere, when they fee any re- 
markable point of Education or good hufbandry, and 
to tranfplant it in time to his own home, with the fame 
care as others, when they meet with good fruit, get a 
graft of the Tree, enriching their Orchard, and neg 
leering their Houfe. Befides, they are to read Books 
of Law and Juftice ; efpecially the Statutes at large. 



284 Herbert's prose works. 

As for better Books of Divinity, they are not in this 
Confideration, becaufe we are about a Calling, and a 
preparation thereunto. But chiefly, and above all 
things, they are to frequent Seflions and Amzes ; for 
it is both an honour which they owe to the Reverend* 
Judges and Magiftrates, to attend them at leaft in 
their Shire ; and it is a great advantage to know the 
pradtice of the Land ; for our Law is Practice. Some- 
times he may go to Court, as the eminent place both 
of good and ill. At other times he is to travel over 
the King's Dominions, cutting out the Kingdom into 
Portions, which every year he furveys piece-meal. 
When there is a Parliament, he is to endeavour by all 
means to be a Knight or Burgefs there ; for there is no 
School to a Parliament. And when he is there, he 
muft not only be a morning man, but at Committees 
alfo ; for there the particulars are exactly difcufTed, 
which are brought from thence to the Houfe but in 
general. When none of thefe occafions call him 
abroad, every morning that he is at home he muft 
either ride the Great Horfe, or exercife fome of his 
Military Poftures. For all gentlemen, that are now 
weakened, and difarmed with fedentary lives, are to 
know the ufe of their Arms : and as the Hufbandman 
labours for them, fo muft they light for, and defend 
them, when occafion calls. This is the duty of each 
to other, which they ought to fulfil : and the Parfon is 
a lover and exciter to juftice in all things, even as 
John the Baptift fquared out to every one (even to 
ibldiers) what to do. As for younger Brothers, thofe 
whom the Parfon finds loofe, and not engaged in fome 
Profemon by their Parents, whofe neglect in this point 
:s intolerable, and a fhameful wrong both to the Com- 

* So Bacon : " It is a reverend thing, to fee an ancient caftle 
or a building not in decay." 



A PRIP«T TO THE TEMPLE. 285 

monwealth, and their own Houfe : To them, after he 
hath mewed the unlawfulnefs of fpending the dav in 
dreiling, complimenting, vifiting, and (porting, he firft 
commends the ftudy of the Civil Law, as a brave, and 
wife knowledge, the Profeflbrs whereof were much 
employed by Queen Elizabeth, becaufe it is the key of 
Commerce, and difcovers the rules of foreign Nations. 
Secondly, he commends the Mathematics, as the only 
wonder-working knowledge, and therefore requiring 
the beft fpirits. After the feveral knowledge of thefe, 
he advifeth to infift and dwell chiefly on the two noble 
branches thereof, of Fortification and Navigation ; 
The one being ufeful to all Countries, and the other 
efpecially to Iflands. But if the young Gallant think 
thefe Courfes dull, and phlegmatic, where can he bufy 
himfelf better than in thofe new Plantations,* and dis- 
coveries, which are not only a noble, but alfo as they 
may be handled, a religious employment ? Or let him 
travel into Germany and France, and obferving the 
Artifices, and Manufactures there, tranfplant them 
hither, as divers have done lately, to our Country's 
advantage. 

* There was a great charm for the poetical mind in thefe re- 
gions. Cowley, writing in 1656, fays in the Preface to his Poems, 
" My defire has been for fome years paft, (though the execution 
has been accidentally diverted,) and does ftill vehemently continue, 
to retire myfclf to iome of our American plantations, not to leek 
for gold, or enrich myfelf with the traffic of thofe parts (which is 
the end of moft men that travel thither), but to forlake this world 
for ever, with all the vanities and vexations of it, and to bury 
myfelf there in fome obfeure retreat, but not without the confbla- 
tion of letters and philofophy." 



286 Herbert's prose works. 

Chap. XXXIII. 

THE PARSON'S LIBRARY. 

THE Country Parfon's Library is a holy Life : for 
befides the bleffing that that brings upon it, there 
being a promife, that if the Kingdom of God be firft 
fought, all other things fhall be added, even itfelf is a 
Sermon. For the temptations with which a good man 
is befet, and the ways which he ufed to overcome 
them, being told to another, whether in private con- 
ference, or in the Church, are a Sermon. He that 
hath confidered how to carry himfelf at Table about 
his appetite, if he tell this to another, preacheth ; and 
much more feelingly, and judicioufly, than he writes 
his rules of temperance out of Books. So that the 
Parfon having ftudied and mattered all his lufts and 
affections within, and the whole Army of Temptations 
without, hath ever fo many Sermons ready penned, as 
he hath victories. And it fares in this as it doth in 
Phyfic : He that hath been fick of a Confumption, and 
knows what recovered him, is a Phyfician, fo far as he 
meets with the fame difeafe, and temper : and can 
much better, and particularly do it, than he that is 
generally learned, and was never fick. And if the 
fame perfon had been fick of all difeafes, and were 
recovered of all, by things that he knew, there were 
no fuch Phyfician as he, both for fkill and tendernefs. 
Juft fo it is in Divinity, and that not without manifeft 
reafon : for though the temptations may be diverfe in 
divers Chriftians, yet the victory is alike in all, being 
by the felf-fame Spirit. Neither is this true only in 
the military ftate of a Chriftian life, but even in the 
peaceable alfo ; when the fervant of God, freed for a 
while from temptation, in a quiet fweetnefs feeks how 
to pleafe his God. Thus the Parfon confidering that 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 287 

repentance is the great virtue of the Gofpcl, and one 
of the firft fteps of pleafmg God, having for his own 
ufe examined the nature of it, is able to explain it after 
to others. And particularly, having doubted lbme- 
times, whether his repentance were true, or at leaft in 
that degree it ought to be, fince he found himfelf fome- 
times to weep more for the lofs of fome temporal things 
than for offending God, he came at length to this refo- 
lution, that repentance is an act of the mind, not of 
the Body, even as the Original fignifies ; and that the 
chief thing which God in Scriptures requires, is the 
heart, and the fpirit, and to worfhip him in truth, and 
fpirit. Wherefore in cafe a Chriftian endeavour to 
weep, and cannot, fince we are not Matters of our 
bodies, this fufficeth. And confequently he found, 
that the effence of repentance, that it may be alike in 
all God's children (which as concerning weeping it 
cannot be, fome being of a more melting temper than 
others) confifteth in a true deteftation of the foul, ab- 
horring and renouncing fin, and turning unto God in 
truth of heart, and newnefs of life : Which acts of 
repentance are and muft be found in all God's fervants. 
Not that weeping is not ufeful, where it can be, that 
fo the body may join in the grief, as it did in the fin ; 
but that, fo the other acts be, that is not neceflary : 
fo that he as truly repents who performs the other acts of 
repentance, when he cannot more, as he that weeps a 
flood of tears. This inftruction and comfort the Par- 
fon getting for himfelf, when he tells it to others, 
becomes a fermon. The like he doth in other Chrif- 
tian virtues, as of Faith, and Love, and the Cafes of 
Confcience belonging thereto, wherein (as St. Paul 
implies that he ought, Romans ii.) he firft preacheth 
to himfelf, and then to others. 



288 Herbert's prose works. 

Chap. XXXIV. 

THE PARSON'S DEXTERITY IN 
APPLYING OF REMEDIES. 

THE Country Parfon knows, that there is a double 
ftate of a Chriftian, even in this life, the one mili- 
tary, the other peaceable. The military is, when we 
are affaulted with temptations either from within or 
from without. The Peaceable is, when the Devil for 
a time leaves us, as he did our Saviour, and the angels 
minifter to us their own food, even joy, and peace, 
and comfort in the Holy Ghoft. Thefe two ftates 
were in our Saviour, not only in the beginning of his 
preaching, but afterwards alfo, as Matth. xxii. 35, He 
was tempted : And Luke x. 21, He rejoiced in Spirit : 
And they muft be likewife in all that are his. Now 
the Parfon having a Spiritual judgment, according as 
he difcovers any of his Flock to be in one or the other 
ftate, fo he applies himfelf to them. Thofe that he 
finds in the peaceable ftate, he advifeth to be very 
vigilant, and not to let go the reins as foon as the horfe 
goes eafy. Particularly, he counfelleth them to two 
things : Firft, to take heed, left their quiet betray them 
(as it is apt to do) to a coldnefs, and careleflhefs in 
their devotions, but to labour ftill to be as fervent in 
Chriftian duties, as they remember themfelves were, 
when affliction did blow the coals. Secondly, not to 
take the full compafs and liberty of their Peace : not to 
eat of all thofe difhes at table, which even their prefent 
health otherwife admits : nor to ftore their houfe with 
all thofe furnitures, which even their prefent plenty of 
wealth otherwife admits ; nor when they are among 
them that are merry, to extend themfelves to all that 
mirth, which the prefent occafion of wit and company 
otherwife admits \ but to put bounds and hoops to 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 289 

their joys : fo will they laft the longer, and when they 
depart, return the fooner. If we would judge our- 
felves, we fhould not be judged ; and if we would 
bound ourfelves, we fhould not be bounded. But if 
they fhall fear, that at fuch, or fuch a time their peace 
and mirth have carried them further than this modera- 
tion, then to take Job's admirable Courfe, who facri- 
ficed left his Children mould have tranfgreffed in their 
mirth : fo let them go, and find fome poor afflicted 
foul, and there be bountiful and liberal ; for with fuch 
facrifices God is well pleafed. Thofe that the Parfon 
finds in the military ftate, he fortifies, and ftrengthens 
with his utmoft fkill. Now in thofe that are tempted, 
whatfoever is unruly, falls upon Two Heads ; Either 
they think, that there is none that can or will look 
after things, but all goes by chance, or wit : Or elfe, 
though there be a great Governor of all things, yet to 
them he is loft, as if they faid, God doth forfake and 
perfecute them, and there is none to deliver them. If 
the Parfon fufpect the firft, and find fparks of fuch 
thoughts now and then to break forth, then without 
oppofing directly (for difputation is no Cure for Atheifm) 
he fcatters in his difcourfe three forts of Arguments. 
The Firft taken from Nature, the fecond from the 
Law, the third from Grace. For Nature, he fees not 
how a houfe could be either built without a builder, or 
kept in repair without a houfekeeper. He conceives 
not poflibly, how the winds fhould blow fo much as 
they can, and the fea rage as much as it can, and all 
things do what they can, and all, not only without 
diflblution of the whole, but alfo of any part, by taking 
away fo much as the ufual feafons of fummer and win- 
ter, earing and harveft. Let the weather be what it 
will, ftill we have bread, though fometimes more, fome- 
times lefs ; wherewith alfo a careful Jofeph might 
meet. He conceives not poflibly y how he that would 
u 



29O HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

believe a Divinity, if he had been at the Creation of 
all things, fhould lefs believe it, feeing the Prefervation 
of all things ; For Prefervation is a Creation ; and 
more, it is a continued Creation, and a Creation every 
moment. Secondly, For the law, there may be fo 
evident, though unufed a proof of Divinity taken from 
thence, that the Atheift, or Epicurean can have no- 
thing to contradict. The Jews yet live and are 
known : they have their Law and Language bearing 
witnefs to them, and they to it : they are Circumcifed 
to this day, and expect the promifes of the Scripture \ 
their Country alfo is known, the places, and rivers tra- 
velled unto, and frequented by others, but to them an 
unpenetrable rock, an inacceflible defert. Wherefore if 
the Jews live, all the great wonders of old live in them, 
and then who can deny the ftretched-out arm of a mighty 
God ? efpecially fince it may be a juft doubt, whether, 
confidering the ftubbornnefs of the Nation, their living 
then in their Country, under fo many miracles were a 
ftranger thing, than their prefent exile, and difability to 
live in their Country. And it is obfervable, that this very 
thing was intended by God, that the Jews mould be his 
proof, and witnefles, as he calls them, Ifaiah xliii. 12. 
And their very difperfion in all Lands, was intended not 
only for a punifhment to them ; but for an exciting to 
others by their fight, to the acknowledging of God and 
his power, Pfalm lix. 11. And, therefore, this kind of 
punifhment was chofen rather than any other. Thirdly, 
For Grace. Befides, the continual fucceflion (fince the 
Gofpel) of Holy men, who have borne witnefs to the 
truth, (there being no reafon why any fhould diftruft 
St. Luke, or Tertullian, or Chryfoftom, more than 
Tully, Virgil, or Livy;) There are two Prophecies in 
the Gofpel, which evidently argue Chrift's Divinity by 
their fuccefs : the one concerning the woman that fpent 
the ointment on our Saviour, for which he told, that it 
fhould never be forgotten, but with the Gofpel itfelf be 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 2CjI 

preached to all ages, Matthew xxvi. 13. The other 
concerning the deftruction of Jerufalem ; of which our 
Saviour faid, that that generation fhould not pafs, till all 
were fulfilled, Luke xxi. 32. Which Jofephus's Hiftory 
confirmeth, and the continuance of which Verdict is yet 
evident. To thefe might be added the Preaching of the 
Gofpel in all Nations, Matthew xxiv. 14, which we fee 
even miraculoufly effected in thefe new difcoveries, God 
turning Men's Covetoufnefs and Ambitions to the 
effecting of his Word. Now a Prophecy is a wonder 
fent to Pofterity, left they complain of want of wonders. 
It is a Letter fealed, and fent, which to the Bearer is but 
Paper, but to the receiver, and opener, is full of power. 
He that faw Chrift open a blind man's eyes, faw not 
more divinity than he that reads the woman's ointment 
in the Gofpel, or fees Jerufalem deftroyed. With fome 
of thefe heads enlarged, and woven into his difcourfe, at 
fevcral times and occafions, the Parfon fettleth waver- 
ing minds. But if he fees them nearer defperation, than 
Atheifm, not fo much doubting a God, as that he is 
theirs; then he dives into the boundlefs Ocean of God's 
Love, and the unfpeakable riches of his loving-kindnefs. 
He hath one argument unanivverable. If God hate 
them, either he doth it as they are Creatures, duft and 
afhes, or as they are finful. As Creatures, he mult 
needs love them ; for no perfect Artift ever yet hated 
his own work. As finful, he muft much more love 
them ; becaufe notwithftanding his infinite hate of fin, 
his love overcame that hate ; and with an exceeding 
great victory; which in the Creation needed not, gave 
them love for love, even the Son of his love out of his 
bofom of love. So that man, which way foever he turns, 
hath two pledges of God's love, that in the mouth of 
two or three witneffes every word may be eftablifhed; 
the one in his Being, the other in his finful Being : and 
this as the more faulty in him, fo the more glorious in 
u 2 



292 Herbert's prose works. 

God. And all may certainly conclude, that God loves 
them, till either they defpife that love ; or defpair of his 
mercy; not any fin elfe, but is within his love ; but the 
defpifing of love muft needs be without it. The thruft- 
ing away of his arm makes us only not embraced. 



Chap. XXXV. 

THE PARSON'S CONDESCENDING. 

THE Country Parfon is a Lover of Old Cuftoms, 
if they be good and harmlefs ; and the rather, 
becaufe Country people are much addicted to them 5 
fo that to favour them therein is to win their hearts, 
and to oppofe them therein is to deject them. If there 
be any ill in the cuftom, that may be fevered from the 
good, he pares the apple and gives them the clean to 
feed on. Particularly he loves proceffion, and main- 
tains it, becaufe there are contained therein four manifeft 
advantages : Firft, A bleffing of God for the fruits of 
the field : Secondly, Juftice in the Prefer vation of 
bounds : Thirdly, Charity in loving walking, and 
neighbourly accompanying one another, with reconciling 
of differences at that time, if there be any : Fourthly, 
Mercy in relieving the poor by a liberal diftribution and 
largefs, which at that time is, or ought to be ufed. 
Wherefore he exacts of all to be prefent at the peram- 
bulation, and thofe that withdraw, and fever themfelves 
from it, he miflikes, and reproves as uncharitable and 
unneighbourly ; and if they will not reform, prefents 
them. Nay, he is fo far from condemning fuch afTem- 
blies, that he rather procures them to be often, as 
knowing that abfence breeds ftrangenefs, but prefence 
love. Now love is his bufinefs and aim ; wherefore 
he likes w^U, that his Parifh at good times invite one 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 293 

another to their houfes, and he urgeth them to it: and 
fometimes, where he knows there hath been or is a 
little difference, he takes one of the parties, and goes 
with him to the other, and all dine or fup together. 
There is much preaching in this friendlinefs. Another 
old Cuftom there is of faying, when light is brought in, 
God fends us the light of heaven ; And the Parfon 
likes this very well : neither is he afraid of praifing, or 
praying to God at all times, but is rather glad of 
catching opportunities to do them. Light is a great 
Blefling, and as great as food, for which we give 
thanks ; and thofe that think this fuperftitious, neither 
know fuperftition nor themfelves. As for thofe that 
are afhamed to ufe this form as being old, and obfolete, 
and not the fafhion, he reforms and teaches them, that 
at Baptifm they profefled not to be afhamed of Chrift's 
Crofs, or for any fhame to leave that which is good. 
He that is afhamed in fmall things, will extend his 
pufillanimity to greater. Rather mould a Chriftian 
Soldier take fuch occafions to harden himfelf and to 
further his exercifes of Mortification. 



Chap. XXXVI. 

THE PARSON BLESSING. 

THE Country Parfon wonders, that Blefling the 
People is in fo little ufewith his brethren: whereas 
he thinks it not only a grave, and reverend thing, but 
a beneficial alfo. Thofe who ufe it not ; do fo either out 
of nicenefs, becaufe they like the falutations and com- 
pliments, and forms of worldly language better ; which 
conformity and fafhionablenefs is fo exceeding unbefit- 
ting a Minifter, that it deferves reproof, not refutation : 
Or elfe, becaufe they think it empty and fuperfluous. 



294 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

But that which* the Apoftles ufed fo dilligently in their 
writings, nay, which our Saviour himfelf ufed, Mark 
x. 1 6, cannot be vain and fuperfluous. But this was not 
proper to Chrift, or the apoftles only, no more than to 
be a fpiritual Father was appropriated to them. And if 
temporal Fathers blefs their children, how much more 
may, and ought Spiritual Fathers ? Befides, the Priefts 
of the Old Teftament were commanded to Blefs the 
people, and the form thereof is prefcribed, Numbers 
vi. Now as the Apoftle argues in another cafe ; if 
the Miniftration of condemnation did blefs, how mall 
not the Miniftration of the Spirit exceed in bleffing ? 
The fruit of this bleffing good Hannah found, and 
received with great joy, I Samuel i. 18, though it came 
from a man difallowed by God : for it was not the 
perfon but Priefthood, that blefTed; fo that even ill 
Priefts may blefs. Neither have the Minifters power 
of bleffing only, but alfo of Curfing. So in the Old 
Teftament, Eliftia curfed the children, 2 Kings ii. 24, 
which though our Saviour reproved as unfitting for his 
particular, who was to fhow all humility before his 
Paffion, yet he allows it in his Apoftles. And therefore, 
St. Peter ufed that fearful imprecation to Simon Magus, 
Acts viii., Thy money perifti with thee : and the event 
confirmed it : fo did St. Paul, 2 Timothy iv. 14, and 
1 Timothy, i. 20. Speaking of Alexander the copper- 
fmith, who had withftood his preaching, The Lord 
(faith he) reward him according to his works. And 
again, of Hymeneus and Alexander, he faith he had 
delivered them to Satan, that they might learn not 
to Blafpheme. The Forms both of Bleffing, and 
Curfing, are expounded in the Common Prayer Book : 
the one in, The grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, &c. 
and the Peace of God, &c. ; the other in general, in 
the Commination. Now bleffing differs from prayer, 
in affu ranee, becaufe it is not performed by way of 
requeft, but of confidence, and power, effectually 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 295 

applying God's favour to the bleffed, by the intercfting 
of that dignity wherewith God hath inverted the Prieft, 
and engaging of God's own power and inftitution for a 
Blefling. The neglect of this duty in Minifters them- 
felves hath made the people alfo neglect it ; fo that 
they are fo far from craving this benefit from their 
ghoftly Father, that they oftentimes go out of Church 
before he hath blefTed them. In the time of Popery, 
the Prieft's Benedicite and his holy water were over 
highly valued ; and now we are fallen to the clean 
contrary, even from fuperftition to coldnefs and Atheifm. 
But the Parfon firft values the gift in himfelf, and then 
teacheth his Parim to value it. And it is obfervable, 
that if a Minifter talk with a great man in the ordinary 
courfe of complimenting language, he mail be efteemed 
as ordinary complimenters ; but if he often interpofe a 
Blefling, when the other gives him juft opportunity, 
by fpeaking any good, this unufual form begets a 
reverence, and makes him efteemed according to his 
profeflion. The fame is to be obferved in writing 
Letters alfo. To conclude, if all men are to blefs upon 
occafion, as appears Romans xii. 14, how much more 
thofe who are fpiritual Fathers ? 



Chap. XXXVII. 

CONCERNING DETRACTION.* 

HE Country Parfon perceiving, that moft, when 
they are at leifure, make others' faults their en- 

* See Barrow's Sermon on Detraction, (Works, i. 415,) which 
he fays " may be couched in truth, and clothed in fair language ; 
it is a poifon often infufed in fweet liquor, and miniftercd in a 
golden cup." 



T 



296 Herbert's prose works. 

tertainment and difcourfe, and that even fome good 
men think, fo they fpeak truth, they may difciofe 
another's fault, finds it fomewhat difficult how to pro- 
ceed in this point. For if he abfolutely fhut up men's 
mouths, and forbid all difclofing of faults, many an 
evil may not only be, but alfo fpread in his Parifh, 
without any remedy (which cannot be applied without 
notice) to the difhonour of God, and the infection of 
his flock, and the difcomfort, difcredit, and hindrance of 
the Paftor. On the other fide, if it be unlawful to 
open faults, no benefit or advantage can make it law- 
ful ; for we muft not do evil that good may come of it. 
Now the Parfon taking this point to tafk, which is fo 
exceeding ufeful, and hath taken fo deep root, that it 
feems the very life and fubftance of Converfation, hath 
proceeded thus far in the difcuffing of it. Faults are 
either notorious or private. Again, notorious faults 
are either fuch as are made known by common fame 
(and of thefe, thofe that know them may talk, fo they 
do it not with fport, but commiferation ;) or elfe fuch 
as have pafled judgment, and been corrected either by 
whipping, or imprifoning, or the like. Of thefe alfo 
men may talk, and more, they may difcover them to 
thofe that know them not ; becaufe infamy is a part of 
the fentence againft malefactors, which the Law in- 
tends, as is evident by thofe which are branded for 
rogues, that they may be known, or put into the 
flocks, that they may be looked upon. But fome may 
fay, though the Law allow this, the Gofpel doth not, 
which hath fo much advanced Charity, and ranked 
backbiters among the generation of the wicked, Ro- 
mans i. 30. But this is eafily anfwered : as the exe- 
cutioner is not uncharitable, that takes away the life of 
the condemned, except, befides his office, he had a 
tincture of private malice, in the joy and hafte of 
acting his part; fo neither is he that defames him 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 297 

whom the Law would have defamed, except he alio do 
it out of rancour. For in infamy, all are executioners, 
and the Law gives the malefactor to all to be defamed. 
And as malefactors may lofe and forfeit their goods or life, 
fo may they their good name, and the poiTeffion thereof, 
which before their offence and Judgment they had in 
all men's breafts ; for all are honeft till the contrary be 
proved. Befides, it concerns the Common-Wealth 
that Rogues mould be known, and Charity to the 
public hath the precedence of private Charity. So 
that it is fo far from being a fault to difcover fuch 
offenders, that it is a duty rather, which may do much 
good, and fave much harm. Neverthelefs, if the 
punifhed Delinquent mall be much troubled for his 
fins, and turn quite another man, doubtlefs then alfo 
men's affections and words muft turn, and forbear to 
fpeak of that which even God himfelf hath forgotten.* 



THE AUTHOR'S PRAYER BEFORE 
SERMON. 



o 



ALMIGHTY and ever living Lord God ! Ma- 
jefty, and Power, and Brightnefs and Glory! 



* It may be interefting to read the fketch of a Country Parifh 
by John Norris, living in Herbert's parfonage, and having the 
villagers of Bemerton in his eye : " Countiy people are much 
prouder than they ufed to be $ and the lower you go, ftill the 
more pride you find. For even the poor are as proud in their 
way as any, and for aught I know, the very proudeft of all. 
For there are none that are more captious and exceptious, more 
nice and difficult, and that mult be treated with more care, 
caution, and obfervance ; none that are more eafily offended, or 
more hardly reconciled, that are more apt $0 take, or more back- 
ward to forgive a flight or an affront, or fo much as a neglect." 
Norris, " A treatife concerning Humilitie, 1 ' 1707, p. 326. 



298 Herbert's prose works. 

How fhall we dare to appear before thy face, who are 
contrary to thee, in all we call thee ? for we are dark- 
nefs, and weaknefs, and filthinefs, and lhaine. Miferv 
and fin fill our days ; yet art thou our Creator, and we 
thy work. Thy hands both made us, and alfo made 
us lords of all thy creatures ; giving us one world in 
ourfelves, and another to ferve us : then didft thou 
place us in Paradife, and wert proceeding ftill on in thy 
favours, until we interrupted thy counfels, difappointed 
thy purpofes, and fold our God, our glorious, our gra- 
cious God, for an apple. O write it ! O brand it in 
our foreheads for ever : for an apple once we loft our 
God, and ftill lofe him for no more ; for money, foi 
meat, for diet : But thou, Lord, art patience, and pity, 
and fweetnefs, and love; therefore we fons of men are 
not confumed. Thou haft exalted thy mercy above 
all things, and haft made our falvation, not our punilh- 
ment, thy glory: fo that then where fin abounded, not 
death, but grace fuperabounded > accordingly when we 
had finned beyond any help in heaven or earth, then 
thou faidft, Lo, I come ! then did the Lord of life, 
unable of himfelf to die, contrive to do it. He took 
flefh, he wept, he died ; for his enemies he died ; even 
for thofe that derided him then, and ftill defpife him. 
Bleffed Saviour ! many waters could not quench thy 
love, nor no pit overwhelm it ! But though the ftreams 
of thy blood were current through darknefs, grave, and 
hell, yet by thefe thy confli&s, and feemingiy hazards, 
didft thou arife triumphant, and therein madeft us 
victorious. 

Neither doth thy love yet ftay here ! for this word of 
thy rich peace and reconciliation thou haft committed, 
not to Thunder or Angels, but to filly and finful men ; 
even to me, pardctiing my fins, and bidding me go feed 
the people of thy love. 

Bleffed be the God of Heaven and Earth, who only 



A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE. 299 

doth wondrous things. Awake, therefore, my Lute 
and my Viol ! awake all my powers to glorify thee ! 
We praife thee, we blefs thee, we magnify thee for 
ever ! And now, O Lord, in the power of thy Vic- 
tories, and in the ways of thy ordinances, and in the 
truth of thy Love, Lo, we ftand here, befeeching thee 
to blefs thy word, wherever fpoken this day throughout 
the univerfal Church. O make it a word of power 
and peace, to convert thofe who are not yet thine, and 
to confirm thofe that are ; particularly, blefs it in this 
thy own Kingdom, which thou haft made a Land 
of light, a florehoufe of thy treafures and mercies. O 
let not our foolifh and unworthy hearts rob us of the 
continuance of this thy fweet love ; but pardon our fins, 
and perfecSt what thou haft begun. Ride on, Lord, 
becaufe of the word of truth, and meeknefs and righte- 
oufnefs, and thy right hand fhall teach thee terrible 
things. Efpecially, blefs this portion here afTembled 
together, with thy unworthy Servant fpeaking unto 
them : Lord Jefu ! teach thou me, that I may teach 
them : Sanilify and enable all my powers, that in their 
full ftrength they may deliver thy meflage reverently, 
readily, faithfully, and fruitfully ! O make thy word a 
fwift word, pafling from the ear to the heart, from the 
heart to the life and converfation : that as the rain 
returns not empty, fo neither may thy word, but ac- 
complifh that for which it is given. O Lord, hear ! 
O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hearken, and do fo for 
thy blefled Son's fake, in whofe fweet and pleafing 
words, we fay, Our Father, &c. 



300 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 



PRAYER AFTER SERMON. 

BLESSED be God, and the Father of all mercy, 
who continueth to pour his benefits upon us ! 
Thou haft elected us, thou haft called us, thou haft 
juftified us, fanctified, and glorified us : Thou waft 
born for us, and thou livedft and diedft for us : Thou 
haft given us the blefiings of this life, and of a better. 
O Lord, thy blefiings hang in clufters, they come 
trooping upon us ! they break forth like mighty waters 
on every fide. And now, Lord, thou haft fed us with 
the bread of life; fo man did eat Angels' food. O 
Lord, blefs it ; O Lord, make it health and ftrength 
unto us, ftill ftriving and profpering fo Jong within us, 
until our obedience reach thy meafure of thy love, who 
haft done for us as much as may be. Grant this, dear 
Father, for thy Son's fake, our only Saviour ; To whom 
with thee and the Holy Ghoft, three Perfons, but one 
moft glorious incomprehenfible God, be afcribed all 
Honour, and Glory, and Praife, ever. Amen. 



Jacula Prudentum. 



[The Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish 
Proverbs, Sentences, &c, were firft printed in 
1640, — a very fmall volume — with Herbert's initials 
on the title-page ; a fecond edition, confiderably en- 
larged, was publifhed in 1651. The collection is 
curious and interefting. Proverbs formed a favourite 
ftudy of that age. Bifhop Andrewes took great plea- 
fure in them, obferving that " by thefe he knew the 
mind of feveral nations ;" which, Selden adds (Table- 
talk), is a brave thing ; as we count him a wife man, 
that knows the minds and infides of men, which is 
done by knowing what is habitual to them. Proverbs 
are habitual to a nation, being tranfmitted from father 
to fon."] 

OLD men go to Death, Death comes to young 
men. 
Man propofeth, God difpofeth. 
He begins to die, that quits his defires. 
A handful of good life is better than a bufhel of Learn- 
ing. 
He that ftudies his content, wants it. 
Every day brings its bread with it. 
Humble hearts have humble defires. 
He that {tumbles and falls not, mends his pace. 



?02 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

The houfe fhows the owner. 

He that gets out of debt, grows rich. 

All is well with him who is beloved of his neighbours. 

Building and marrying of children are great wafters. 

A good bargain is a pick-purfe. 

The fcalded dog fears cold water. 

Pleafing ware is half fold. 

Light burdens, long borne, grow heavy. 

The Wolf knows what the ill beaft thinks. 

Who hath none to ftill him may weep out his eyes. 

When all fins grow old, covetoufnefs is young. 

If ye would know a knave, give him a ftaff. 

You cannot know wine by the barrel. 

A cool mouth, and warm feet, live long. 

A horfe made, and a man to make. 

Look not for mufk in a dog's kennel. 

Not a long day, but a good heart, rids work. 

He pulls with a long rope, that waits for another's 

death. 
Great ftrokes make not fweet mufic. 
A caik and an ill cuftom muft be broken. 
A fat houfekeeper makes lean executors. 
Empty chambers make foolifh maids. 
The gentle Hawk half mans herfelf. 
The devil is not always at one door. 
When a friend afks, there is no to-morrow. 
God fends cold according to clothes. 
One found blow will ferve to undo us all. 
He lofeth nothing, that loofeth not God. 
The German's wit is in his fingers. 
At dinner my man appears. 
Who gives to all, denies all. 
Quick believers need broad fhoulders. 
Who remove ftones, bruife their fingers. 
Benefits pleafe like flowers while they are frefh. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 303 

Between the bufmefs of life and the clay of death, a (pace 

ought to be interpofed. 
All came from and will go to others. 
' He that will take the bird, mull not fcare it. 
He lives unfafely that looks too near on things. 
A gentle houfewife mars the houfehold. 
A crooked log makes a ftraight fire. 
He hath great need of a fool that plays the fool himfelC 
A Merchant that gains not, lofeth. 
Let not him that fears feathers come among wild-fowl. 
Love, and a Cough, cannot be hid. 

* A Dwarf on a Giant's moulder, fees further of the two. 
He that fends a fool, means to follow him. 
Babbling curs never want fore ears. 

* Better the feet flip than the tongue. 

For warning his hands, none fells his lands. 
A Lion's fkin is never cheap. 

* The goat muft browfe where fhe is tied. 
Nothing is to be prefumed on, or defpaired of. 

Who hath a Wolf for his mate, needs a Dog for bis 

man. 
In a good houfe all is quickly ready. 
A bad dog never fees the Wolf. 

* God oft hath a great ftiare in a little houfe. 
Ill ware is never cheap. 

* A cheerful look makes a dim a feaft. 

If all fools had baubles, we mould want fuel. 
Virtue never grows old. 
Evening words are not like to morning. 
Were there no fools, bad ware would not pafs. 

* Never had ill workman good tools. 
He ftands not furely that never flips. 

- Were there no hearers, there would be no backbiters. 
Everything is of ufe to a houfekeeper. 
When prayers are done, my Lady is ready. 
Cities feldom change Religion only. 



304 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

At length the Fox turns Monk. 
Flies are bufieft about lean horfes. 
Hearken to reafon, or fhe will be heard. 
The bird loves her neft. 
Everything new is fine. 

When a dog is a drowning, every one offers him drink. 
Better a bare foot than none. 
Who is fo deaf as he that will not hear ? 
He that is warm thinks all fo. 
At length the Fox is brought to the Furrier. 
He that goes bare-foot muft not plant thorns. 
They that are booted are not always ready. 
He that will learn to pray, let him go to Sea. 
In fpending lies the advantage. 
He that lives well, is learned enough. 
Ill veffels feldom mifcarry. 
A full belly neither fights nor flies well. 
All truths are not to be told. 

An old wife man's fhadow is better than a young buz- 
zard's fword. 
Noble houfekeepers need no doors. 
Every ill man hath his ill day. 
Sleep without fupping, and wake without owing. 
I gave the moufe a hole, and fhe is become my heir. 
Aflail who will, the valliant attends. 
Whither goeft, grief? where I am wont. 
Praife day at night, and life at the end. 
Whither mall the Ox go where he mall not labour ? 
Where you think there is bacon, there is no chimney. 
Mend your clothes, and you may hold out this year. 
Prefs a flick, and it feems a youth. 
The tongue walks where the teeth fpeed not. 
A fair wife and a frontier Caftle breed quarrels. 
Leave jefting whiles it pleafeth, left it turns to earneft. 
Deceive not thy Phyfician, Confeffor, nor Lawyer. 
Ill natures, the more you afk them, the more they ftick. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 305 

Virtue and a Trade are the beft portion for children. 

The Chicken is the Country's, but the City eats it. 

He that gives thee a capon, give him the leg and the 
wing. 

He that lives ill, fear follows him. 

Give a clown your finger, and he will take your hand. 

Good is to be fought out, and evil attended. 

A good paymafter ftarts not at aflurances. 

No Alchymy to faving. 

To a grateful man give money when he afks. 

Who would do ill ne'er wants occafion. 

To fine folks a little ill finely wrapt. 

A child correct behind, and not before. 

To a fair day, open the window, but make you ready 
as to a foul. 
. Keep good men company, and you {hall be of the 
number. 

No love to a Father's. 

The Mill gets by going. 
• To a boiling pot flies come not. 

Make hafte to an ill way, that you may get out of it. 

A fnow year, a rich year. 

Better to be blind than to fee ill. 

Learn weeping, and thou malt laugh gaining. 

Who hath no more bread than need, muft not keep a 
dog. 

A garden muft be looked unto and dreffed as the body. 

The Fox, when he cannot reach the grapes, fays They 
are not ripe. 

Water trotted is as good as oats. 

Though the MaftifT be gentle, yet bite him not by the 

lip * 
Though a lie be well dreffed, it is ever overcome. 

Though old and wife, yet ftill advife. 

Three helping one another, bear the burthen of fix. 

Slander is a fhipwreck by a dry Tempeft. 



306 Herbert's prose works. 

Old wine and an old friend are good provifions. 
Happy is he that chaftens himfelf. 
Well may he fmell fire, whofe gown burns. 
The wrongs of a Hufband or Mafter are not re- 
proached. 
Welcome evil, if thou comeft alone. 
Love your neighbour, yet pull not down your hedge. 
The bit that one eats, no friend makes. 
A drunkard's purfe is a bottle. 
She fpins well that breeds her children. 
Good is the mora that makes all fure. 
Play with a fool at home, and he will play with you in 

the market. 
Every one ftretcheth his legs according to his coverlet. 
Autumnal agues are long or mortal. 
Marry your fon when you will \ your daughter when 

you can, 
Dally not with money or women. 

Men fpeak of the Fair as things went with them there. 
The beft remedy againft an ill man, is much ground 

between both. 
The mill cannot grind with water that's paft. 
Corn is cleaned with wind, and the foul with chaften- 

ings. 
Good words are worth much, and coft little. 
To buy dear is not bounty. 
Jeft not with the eye, or with Religion. 
The eye and Religion can bear no jelling. 
Without favour none will know you, and with it you 

will not know yourfelf. 
Buy at a fair, but fell at home. 

Cover yourfelf with your fhield, and care not for cries. 
A wicked man's gift hath a touch of his mafter 
None is a fool always, every one fometimes. 
From a choleric man withdraw a little ; from him that 

fays nothing, for ever. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 307 

Debtors are liars. 

Of all fmells, bread : of all taftes, fait. 

In a great River great fifh are found: but take heed 
left you be drowned. 

Ever fince we wear clothes, we know not one another. 

God heals, and the Phyfician hath the thanks. 

Hell is full of good meanings and wifhings. 

Take heed of ftill waters, the quick pafs away. 

After the houfe is finifhed, leave it. 

Our own actions are our fecurity, not others' judg- 
ments. 

Think of eafe, but work on. 

He that lies long a bed, his eftate feels it. 

Whether you boil fnow or pound it, you can have but 
water of it. 

One ftroke fells not an oak. 

God complains not, but doth what is fitting. 

A diligent Scholar, and the Mafter's paid. 

Milk fays to wine, Welcome, friend. 

They that know one another, falute afar ofT. 

Where there is no honour, there is no grief. 
•Where the drink goes in, there the wit goes out. 

He that ftays does the bufinefs. 

Alms never make poor. Or thus, 

Great Alms-giving lefTens no man's living. 

Giving much to the poor, doth enrich a man's ftore. 

It takes much from the account, to which his fin doth 
amount. 

It adds to the glory both of foul and body. 

Ill comes in by ells, and goes out by inches. 

The fmith and his penny both are black. 

Whofe houfe is of glafs, muft not throw ftones at 
another. 

If the old dog bark, he gives counfel. 

The tree that grows flowly, keeps itfelf for another. 

I wept when I was born, and every days fhews why. 

x 2 



308 Herbert's prose works. 

He that looks not before, finds himfelf behind. 

He that plays his money, ought not to value it. 

He that rifeth firft, is firft dreft. 

Difeafes of the eye are to be cured with the elbow. 

The hole calls the thief. 

A gentleman's greyhound and a fait box, feek them at 

the fire. 
A child's fervice is little, yet he is no little fool that 

defpifeth it. 
The river paft, and God forgotten. 
Evils have their comfort \ good none can fupport (to 

wit) with a moderate and contented heart. 
Who muft account for himfelf and others, muft know 

both. 
He that eats the hard, mall eat the ripe. 
The miferable man maketh a penny of a farthing, and 

the liberal of a farthing fixpence. 
The honey is fweet, but the Bee flings. 
Weight and meafure take away ftrife. 
The fon full and tattered, the daughter empty and fine. 
Every path hath a puddle. 

In good years corn is hay, in ill years ftraw is corn. 
Send a wife man on an errand, and fay nothing unto 

him. 
In life you loved me not, in death you bewail me. 
Into a mouth {hut flies fly not. 
The heart's letter is read in the eyes. 
The ill that comes out of our month falls into our 

bofom. 
In great pedigrees there are Governors and Chandlers. 
In the houfe of a fiddler, all fiddle. 
Sometimes the beft gain is to lofe. 
Working and making a fire doth difcretion require. 
One grain fills not a fack, but helps his fellows. 
It is a great victory that comes without blood. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 3O9 

In war, hunting, and love, men for one pleafure a 

thoufand griefs prove. 
Reckon right, and February hath one and thirty days. 
Honour without profit is a ring on the finger. 
Eftate in two Parifhes is bread in two wallets. 
Honour and profit lie not in one fack. 
A naughty child is better fick than whole. 
Truth and oil are ever above. 
He that rifeth betimes, hath fomething in his head. 
Advife none to marry or go to war. 
To fteal the Hog, and give the feet for alms. 
The thorn comes forth with the point forwards. 
One hand walheth another, and both the face. 
The fault of the horfe is put on the faddle. 
The corn hides itfelf in the fnow as an old man in furs. 
The Jews fpend at Eafler, the Moors at marriages, 

the Chriflians in fuits. 
Fine drefling is a foul houfe fwept before the doors. 
A woman and a glafs are ever in danger. 
An ill wound is cured, not an ill name. 
The wife hand doth not all that the foolifh mouth 

fpeaks. 
On painting and fighting look aloof. 
Knowledge is folly except grace guide it. 
Punifhment is lame, but it comes. 
The more women look in their glafs, the lefs they look 

to their houfe. 
A long tongue is a fign of a fhort hand. 
Marry a widow before fhe leave mourning. 
The worft of law is, that one fuit breeds twenty. 
Providence is better than a rent. 

What your glafs tells you, will not be told by Counfel. 
There are more men threatened than ftricken. 
A fool knows more in his houfe, than a wife man in 

another's. 
I had rather ride on an afs that carries me, than a horfe 

that throv/s me. 



310 HERBERTS PROSE WORKS. 

The hard gives more than he that hath nothing. 

The beaft that goes always, never wants blows. 

Good cheap is dear. 

It cofts more to do ill than to do well. 

Good words quench more than a bucket of water. 

An ill agreement is better than a good judgment. 

There is more talk than trouble. 

Better fpare to have of thine own, than afk of other 

men. 
Better good afar off, than evil at hand. 
Fear keeps the garden better than the gardener. 
I had rather afk of my fire brown bread, than borrow 

of my neighbour white. 
Your pot broken feems better than my whole one. 
Let an ill man lie in thy ftraw, and he looks to be thy 

heir. 
By fuppers more have been killed than Galen ever 

cured. 
While the difcreet advife, the fool doth his bufinefs. 
A mountain and a river are good neighbours. 
Goffips are frogs, they drink and talk. 
Much fpends the traveller more than the abider. 
Prayers and provender hinder no journey. 
A well-bred youth neither fpeaks of himfelf, nor, being 

fpoken to, is filent. 
A journeying woman fpeaks much of all, and all of 

her. 
The Fox knows much, but more he that catcheth him. 
Many friends in general, one in fpecial. 
The fool afks much, but he is more fool that grants it. 
Many kifs the hand they wiih cut off. 
Neither bribe, nor lofe thy right. 
In the world who knows not to fwim, goes to the 

bottom. 
Choofe not a houfe near an Inn (viz. for noife) : or in 

a corner (for filth). 



JACULA PRUDENTUM 31 I 

He is a fool that thinks not that another thinks. 

Neither eyes on letters, nor hands in coffers. 

The lion is not fo fierce as they paint him. 

Go not for every grief to the Phyfician, nor for every 

quarrel to the Lawyer, nor for every thirft to the 

pot. 
Good fervice is a great enchantment. 
There would be no great ones, if there were no little 

ones. 
It s no fure rule to fifh with a crofs-bow. 
Tlere were no ill language, if it were not ill taken. 
The groundfel fpeaks not, fave what it heard at the 

Hnges. 
Th* beft mirror is an old friend. 
Say no ill of the year till it be pad. 
A nan's difcontent is his worft evil. 
Fea: nothing but fin. 

The child fays nothing, but what it heard by the fire. 
Call me not an olive, till thou fee me gathered. 
Thi.t is not good language which all underftand not. 
He that burns his houfe, warms himfelf for once. 

• He will burn his houfe to warm his hands. 

He will fpend a whole year's rent at one meal's meat. 

* AL is not gold that glifters. 
A oluftering night, a fair day. 

Be not idle, and you mall not be longing. 
, He is not poor that hath little, but he that defireth 
much. 
Let none fay, I will not drink water. 
He wrongs not an old man that fteals his fupper from 
him. 
• The tongue talks at the head's coft. 
» He that ftrikes with his tongue, muff ward with his 
head. 
Keep not ill men company, left you increafe the 
number. 



312 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

God ftrikes not with both hands, for to the fea he 

made heavens, and to rivers fords. 
A rugged flone grows fmooth from hand to hand. 
No lock will hold againft the power of gold. 
The abfent party is itill faulty. 
Peace and patience, and death with repentance. 
If you lofe your time, you cannot get money nor gain. 
Be not a Baker, if your head be of butter. 
A^kmuch to have a little. 

Little Siicks kindle the fire > great ones put it out. 
Another's^Brsad cofts dear. 

Although it rain, throw not away thy watering pot. 
Although the fun mine, leave not thy cloak at home 
A little with quiet is the only diet. 
In vain is the mill-clack, if the Miller his hearing lack. 
By the needle you fhall draw the thread, and by tiat 

which is paft, fee how that which is to come will be 

drawn on. 
Stay a little, and news will find you. 
Stay till the lame mefienger come, if you will know :he 

truth of the thing. 
When God will, no wind but brings rain. 
Though you rife early, yet the day comes at his time, 

and not till then. 
Pull down your hat on the wind's fide. 
As the year is, your pot muft feeth. 
Since you know all, and I nothing, tell me what I 

dreamed laft night. 
When the fox preacheth, beware geefe. 
When you are an Anvil, hold you ftill ; when you are 

a hammer, ftrike your fill. 
Poor and liberal, rich and covetous. 
He that makes his bed ill, lies there. 
He that labours and thrives, fpins gold. 
He that fows, trufts in God. 
He that lies with the dogs, rifeth with fleas. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 313 

He that repairs not a part, builds all. 

A difcontented man knows not where to fit eafy. 

Who fpits againft heaven, it falls in his face. 

He that dines and leaves, lays the cloth twice. 

Who eats his cock alone, muft faddle his horfe alone. 

He that is not handfome at twenty, nor ftrong at thirty, 

nor rich at forty, nor wife at fifty, will never be 

handfome, ftrong, rich, or wife. 
He that doth what he will, doth not what he ought. 
He that will deceive the fox muft rife betimes. 
He that lives well, fees afar off*. 

He that hath a mouth of his own, muft not fay to an- 
other, Blow: 
He that will be ferved, muft be patient. 
He that gives thee a bone, would not have thee die. 
He that chaftens one, chaftens twenty. 
He that hath loft his credit, is dead to the world. 
He that hath no ill fortune, is troubled with good. 
He that demands, mifieth not, unlefs his demands be 

foolifti. 
He that hath no honey in his pot, let him have it in his 

mouth. 
He that takes not up a pin, flights his wife. 
He that owes nothing, if he makes not mouths at us, 

is courteous. 
He that lofeth his due, gets not thanks. 
He that believes all, milTeth ; he that believeth nothing, 

hits not. 
Pardons and pleafantnefs are great revenges of flanders. 
A married man turns his ftafF into a ftake. 
If you would know fecrets, look them in grief or 

pleafure. 
Serve a noble difpofition, though poor, the time comes 

that he will repay thee. 
The fault is as great as he that is faulty. 
If folly were grief, every houfe would weep, 



314 Herbert's prose works. 

He that would be well old, muft be old betimes. 

Sit in your place, and none can make you rife. 

If you could run as yon drink, you might catch a hare. 

Would you know what money is, Go borrow fome. 

The morning Sun never lafts a day. 

Thou haft death in thy houfe, and doft bewail an- 
other's. 

All griefs with bread are lefs. 

All things require (kill, but an appetite. 

All things have their place, knew we how to place 
them. 

Little pitchers have wide ears. 

We are fools one to another. 

This world is nothing except it tend to another. 

There are three ways, the Univertifies, the Sea, the 
Court. 

God comes to fee without a bell. 

Life without a friend, is death without a witnefs. 

Clothe thee in war, arm thee in peace. 

The horfe thinks one thing, and he that faddles him 
another. 

Mills and wives ever want. 

The dog that licks afhes, truft not with meal. 

The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the feller not one. 

He carries well, to whom it weighs not. 

The comforter's head never aches. 

Step after ftep the ladder is afcended. 

Who likes not the drink, God deprives him of bread. 

To a crazy fhip all winds are contrary. 

Juftice pleafeth few in their own houfe. 

In time comes he, whom God fends. 

Water afar off quencheth not fire. 

In fports and journeys men are known. 

An old friend is a new houfe. 

Love is not found in the market. 

Dry feet, warm head, bring fafe to bed. 






JACULA PRUDENTUM. 315 

He is rich enough that wants nothing. 

One father is enough to govern one hundred fons, but 

not a hundred Tons one father. 
Far (hooting never killed bird. 
An upbraided morfel never choked any. 
Dearths forefeen come not. 
An ill labourer quarrels with his tools. 
He that falls into the dirt, the longer he flays there the 

fouler he is. 
He that blames would buy. 
He that fings on Friday will weep on Sunday. 
The charges of building, and making of gardens are 

unknown. 
My houfe, my houfe, though thou art fmall, thou art 

to me the Efcurial. 
A hundred load of thought will not pay one of debts. 
He that comes of a hen muft fcrape. 
He that feeks trouble never miffes. 
He that once deceives, is ever fufpected. 
Being on fea, fail ; being on land, fettle. 
Who doth his own bufmefs, fouls not his hands. 
He that makes a good war, makes a good peace. 
He that works after his own manner, his head aches 

not at the matter. 
Who hath bitter in his mouth, fpits not all fweet. 
He that hath children, all his morfels are not his own. 
He that hath the fpice, may feafon as he lift. 
He that hath a head of wax, muft not walk in the fun. 
He that hath love in his breaft, hath fpurs in his fides. 
He that refpects not is not refpecled. 
He that hath a fox for his mate, hath need of a net at 

his girdle. 
He that hath right, fears ; he that hath wrong, hopes. 
He that hath patience, hath fat thrufhes for a farthing. 
Never was ftrumpet fair. 
He that meafures not himfelf is meafured. 



316 Herbert's prose works. 

He that hath one hog, makes him fat; and he that 

one fon, makes him a fool. 
Who lets his Wife go to every feaft, and his horfe 

drink at every water, fhall neither have good wife, 

nor good horfe. 
He that fpeaks fows, and he that holds his peace 

gathers. 
He that hath little is the lefs dirty. 
Fie that lives moft dies moft. 
He that hath one foot in the ftraw hath another in the 

fpittle. 
He that is fed at another's hand, may ftay long ere he 

be full. 
He that makes a thing too fine, breaks it. 
He that bewails himfelf hath the cure in his hands. 
He that would be well, needs not go from his own 

houfe. 
Counfel breaks not the head. 
Fly the pleafure that bites to-morrow. 
He that knows what may be gained in a day, never 

fteals. 
Money refufed lofeth its brightnefs. 
Health and money go far. 
Where your will is ready, your feet are light. 
A great fhip afks deeps waters. 
Woe to the houfe where there is no chiding. 
Take heed of the vinegar of fweet wine. 
Fools bite one another, but wife men agree together. 
Truft not one night's ice. 
Good is good, but better carries it. 
To gain teacheth how to fpend. 
Good finds good. 

The dog gnaws the bone becaufe he cannot fwallow it. 
The crow bewails the fheep, and then eats it. 
Building is a fweet impoverifhing. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 317 

The firft degree of folly is to hold one's felf wife, the 

fecond to profefs it, the third to defpife counfel. 
The greateft ftep is that out of doors. 
To weep for joy is a kind of Manna. 
The firft fervice a child doeth his father is to make 

him fooliih. 
The refolved mind hath no cares. 
In the kingdom of a cheater, the wallet is carried 

before. 
The eye will have his part. 

The good mother fays not, Will you ? but gives. 
A houfe and a woman fuit excellently. 
In the kingdom of blind men, the one-eyed is king. 
A little Kitchen makes a large houfe. 
War makes thieves, and peace hangs them. 
Poverty is the mother of health. 
In the morning mountains, in the evening fountains. 
The back door robs the houfe. 
Wealth is like rheum, it falls on the weakeft parts. 
The gown is his that wears it, and the world his that 

enjoys it. 
Hope is the poor man's bread. 

Virtue now is in herbs, and ftones, and words only. 
Fine words drefs ill deeds. 
Labour as long lived, pray as even dying. 
A poor beauty finds more lovers than hufbands. 
Difcreet women have neither eyes nor ears. 
Things well fitted abide. 
Prettinefs dies firft. 
Talking pays no toll. 
The matter's eye fattens the horfe, and his foot the 

ground. 
Difgraces are like cherries, one draws another. 
Praife a hill, but keep below. 
Praife the fea, but keep on land. 



3*8 Herbert's prose works. 

In choofiing a wife, and buying a fword, we ought not 

to truft another. 
The v/earer knows where the fhoe wrings. 
Fair is not fair, but that which pleafeth. 
There is no jollity but hath a fmack of folly. 
He that's long a giving knows not how to giveo 
The filth under the white fnow the fun difcovers. 
Every one faftens where there is gain. 
All feet tread not in one fhoe. 

Patience, time, and money accommodate all things 
For want of a nail the fhoe is loft, for want of a fhoe 

the horfe is loft, for want of a horfe the rider is loft. 
Weight juftly, and fell dearly. 
Little wealth little care. 

Little journeys and good coft bring fafe home. 
Gluttony kills more than the fword. 
When children ftand quiet, they have done fome ill. 
A little and good fills the trencher. 
A penny fpared is twice got, 
When a knave is in a plum-tree, he hath neither friend 

nor kin. 
Short boughs, long vintage. 
Health without money is half an ague. 
If the wife erred not, it would go hard with fools. 
Bear with evil, and expect good. 
He that tells a fecret is another's fervant. 
If all fools wore white Caps, we fhould feem a flock of 

geefe. 
Water, fire and foldiers, quickly make room. 
Penfion never enriched a young man. 
Under water, famine ; under fnow, bread. 
The Lame goes as far as your ftaggerer. 
He that lofeth is Merchant, as well as he that gains. 
A jade eats as much as a good horfe. 
All things in their being are good for fomething. 
One flower makes no garland. 



r\p* 



i 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 319 

A fair death honours the whole life. 

One enemy is too much. 

Living well is the beft revenge. 

One fool makes a hundred. 

One pair of ears draws dry a hundred tongues. 

A fool may throw a ftone into a well, which a hundred 

wife men cannot pull out. 
One number finds another. 
On a good bargain think twice. 
To a good fpender God is the Treafurer 
A curfl Cow hath fhort horns. 
Mufic helps not the tooth-ache. 
We cannot come to honour under Coverlet. 
Great pains quickly find eafe. 
To the counfel of fools a wooden bell. 
The choleric man never wants woe. 
Help thyfelf, and God will help thee. 
At the game's end we (hall fee who gains. 
There are many ways to fame. 
Love is the true price of love- 
Love rules his kingdom without a fword. 
Love makes all hearts gentle. 
Love makes a good eye fquint. 
Love afks faith, and faith firmnefs. 
A fceptre is one thing, and a ladle another. 
Great trees are good for nothing but made. 
He commands enough that obeys a wife man. 
Fair words make me look to my purfe. 
Though the fox run the chicken hath wings. 
* He plays well that wins. 
You muft ftrike in meafure, when there are many to 

ftrike on one anvil. 
The fhorteft anfwer is doing. 
It is a poor ftake that cannot ftand one year in the 

ground. 
He that commits a fault thinks every one fpeaks of it 



320 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

He that is foolifh in the fault, let him be wife in the 

punimment. 
The blind eats many a fly. 
He that can make a fire well can end a quarrel. 
The tooth-ache is more eafe than to deal with ill 

people. 
He that would have what he hath not, mould do what 

he doth not. 
He that hath no good trade it is to his lofs. 
The offender never pardons. 

He thai lives not well one year, forrows feven after. 
He that hopes not for good, fears not evil. 
He that is angry at a feaft, is rude. 
He that mocks a cripple ought to be whole. 
When the tree is fallen, all go with their hatchet. 
He that hath horns in his bofom let him not put them 

on his head. 
He that burns moft, mines moft. 
He that trufts in a lie, fhall perifh in truth. 
He that blows in the duft, fills his eyes with it. 
Bells call others, but themfelves enter not into the 

Church. 
Of fair things, the Autumn is fair. 
Giving is dead, reftoring very fick. 
A gift much expected is paid, not given.- 
Two ill meals make the third a glutton. 
The Royal Crown cures not the head-ache. 
'Tis hard to be wretched, but worfe to be known fo. 
A feather in hand is better than a bird in the air. 
It is better to be the head of a Lizard than the tail of a 

Lion. 
Good and quickly feldom meet. 
Folly grows without watering. 
Happier are the hands compaffed with iron, than a 

heart with thoughts. 
If the ttaff be crooked, the fhadow cannot be frraight. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 32I 

To take the nuts from the fire with the dog's foot. 

He is a fool that makes a wedge of his fift. 

Valour that parleys, is near yielding. 

Thurfday come, and the week is gone. 

A flatterer's throat is an open fepulchre. 

There is great force hidden in a fweet command. 

The command of cuftom is great. 

To have money is a fear, not to have it a grief. 

The Cat fees not the moufe ever. 

Little dogs ftart the hare, the great get her. 

Willows are weak, yet they bind other wood. 

A good payer is mafter of another's purfe. 

The thread breaks where it is weakeft. 

Old men, when they fcorn young, make much of 
death. 

God is at the end, when we think he is furtheft off it. 

A good Judge conceives quickly, judges flowly. 

Rivers need a fpring. 

He that contemplates hath a day without night. 

Give lofers leave to talk. 

Lofs embraceth {hame. 

Gaming, Women, and Wine, while they laugh, they 
make men pine. 

The fat man knoweth not what the lean thinketh. 

Wood half burnt is eafily kindled. 

The fifh adores the bait. 

He that goeth far hath many encounters. 

Every bee's honey is fweet. 

The flothful is the fervant of the counters. 

Wifdom hath one foot on land, and another on Sea. 

The thought hath good legs, and the quill a good 
tongue. 

A wife man needs not blufh for changing his purpofe. 

The March fun raifes, but diffolves not. 

Time is the Rider that breaks youth. 

The wine in the bottle doth not quench thirft. 

Y 



322 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

The fight of a man hath the force of a Lion. 

An examined enterprize goes on boldly. 

In every art it is good to have a mafter. 

In every Country dogs bite. 

In every country the fun rifes in the morning. 

A noble plant fuits not with a ftubborn ground. 

You may bring a horfe to the river 5 but he will drink 
when and what he pleafeth. 

Before you make a friend, eat a bufhelof fait with him. 

Speak fitly, or be filent wifely. 

Skill and confidence are an unconquered army. 

I was taken by a morfel,fays the fifh. 

A difarmed peace is weak. 

The balance diftinguifheth not between gold and lead. 

The perfuafion of the fortunate fways the doubtful. 
To be beloved is above all bargains. 
To deceive onefelf is very eafy. 
The reafons of the poor weigh not. 
Perverfenefs makes one fquint-eyed. 
The evening praifes the day, and the morning a froft. 
The table robs more than the thief. 
When age is jocund, it makes fport for death. 
True praife roots and fpreads. 
Fears are divided in the midft. 
The foul needs few things, the body many. 
Aftrology is true, but the Afirologers cannot find it. 
Tie it well, and let it go. 
Empty veiTels found mot 
Send not a cat for lard. 
Foolifh tongues talk by the dozen. 
Love makes one fit for any work. 
A pitiful mother makes a fcald head. 
An old Phyfician, and a young Lawyer. 
Talk much, and err much, fays the Spaniard. 
Some make a confcience of fpitting in the Church, yet 
rob the Altar. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 323 

An idle head is a box for the wind. 

Show me a liar, and I will mow thee a thief. 

A bean in liberty is better than a comfit in prifon. 

None is born Mafter. 

Show a good man his error, and he turns it to a virtue \ 

but an ill, it doubles his fault. 
None is offended but by himfelf. 
None fays his Garner is full. 
In the hufband wifdom, in the wife gentlenefs. 
Nothing dries fooner than a tear. 
In a leopard the fpots are not obferved. 
Nothing lafts but the Church. 
A wife man cares not for what he cannot have. 
It is not good filhing before the net. 
He cannot be virtuous that is not rigorous. 
That which will not be fpun, let it not come between 

the fpindle and the diftafF. 
When my houfe burns, it is not good playing at Chefs. 
No barber {haves fo clofe but another finds work. 
There is no great banquet, but fome fares ill. 
. A holy habit cleanfeth not a foul foul. 
Forbear not fowing becaufe of birds. 
Mention not a halter in the houfe of him that was 

hanged. 
Speak not of a dead man at the table. 
A hat is not made for one fhower. 
No fooner is a Temple built to God, but the Devil 

builds a Chapel hard by. 
Every one puts his fault on the Times. 
You cannot make a windmill go with a pair of bellows. 
Pardon all but thyfelf. 
Every one is weary, the poor in feeking, the rich in 

keeping, the good in learning. 
The efcaped moufe ever feels the tafte of the bait. 
A little wind kindles, much puts out the fire. 
Dry bread at home is better than roaft meat abroad. 

Y 2 



324 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

More have repented fpeech than filence. 

The covetous fpends more than the liberal. 

Divine afhes are better than earthly meal. 

Beauty draws more than oxen. 

One father is more than a hundred School-mafters. 

One eye of the mailer's fees more than ten of the 

fervants'. 
When God will punifh, he will firit take away the 

underftanding. 
A little labour, much health. 
When it thunders the thief becomes honeft. 
The tree that God plants, no wind hurts it. 
Knowledge is no burthen. 
It is a bold moufe that neftles in the cat's ear. 
Long jefting was never good. 
If a good man thrive, all thrive with him. 
If the mother had not been in the oven, ihe had never 

fought her daughter there. 
If great men would have care of little ones, both would 

laft long. 
Though you fee a Church-man ill, yet continue in the 

Church ftill. 
Old praife dies, unlefs you feed it. 
If things were to be done twice, all would be wife. 
Had you the world on your Chefs-board, you could 

not fill all to your mind. 
Suffer and expect. 

If fools ihould not fool it, they iliall lofe their feafon. 
Love and bufmefs teach eloquence. 
That which two will, takes effect. 
He complains wrongfully on the fea, that twice fuffers 

ihipwreck. 
He is only bright that ihines by himfelf. 
A valiant man's look is more than a coward's fword. 
The effect fpeaks, the tongue needs not. 
Divine grace was never flow. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 325 

Reafon lies between the fpur and the bridle. 
It is a proud horfe that will not carry his own proven- 
der. 
Three women make a market. 
* Three can hold their peace if two be away. 
It is an ill counfel that hath no efcape. 
All our pomp the earth covers. 
To whirl the eyes too much, mows a kite's brain. 
Comparifons are odious. 
All keys hang not on one girdle. 
Great bufineffes turn on a little pin. 
The wind in one's face makes one wife. 
All the arms of England will not arm fear. 
One fword keeps another in the fheath. 
*Be what thou wouldft feem to be. 
Let all live as they would die. 
A gentle heart is tied with an eafy thread. 
Sweet difcourfe makes fhort days and nights. 
God provides for him that trufteth. 
He that will not have peace, God gives him war. 
To him that will, ways are not wanting. 
To a great night, a great Lanthorn. 
To a child all weather is cold. 
Where there is peace, God is. 
None is fo wife, but the fool overtakes him. 
Fools give to pleafe all but their own. 
Profperity lets go the bridle. 
The Friar preached againft ftealing, and had a goofe in 

his fleeve. 
To be too bufy gets contempt. 
February makes a bridge, and March breaks it. 
A horfe ftumbles that hath four legs. 
The bed fmell is. bread, the beft favour fait, the beft 

love that of children. 
That is the beft gown that goes up and down the houfe. 
The Market is the beft Garden, 



326 Herbert's prose works. 

The firft difh pleafeth all. 

The higher the Ape goes, the more he fhows his tail. 

Night is the mother of Councils. 

God's Mill grinds flow, but fure. 

Every one thinks his fack heavieft. 

Drought never brought dearth. 

All complain. 

Gamefters and race-horfes never laft long. 

It is a poor fport that is not worth the candle. 

He that is fallen cannot help him that is down. 

Every one is witty for his own purpofe. 

A little let lets an ill workman. 

Good workmen are feldom rich. 

By doing nothing we learn to do ill. 

A great dowry is a bed full of brambles. 

No profit to honour, no honour to Religion. 

Every fin brings its punifhment with it. 

Of him that fpeaks ill, confider the life more than the 

word. 
You cannot hide an eel in a fack. 
Give not Saint Peter fo much, to leave Saint Paul 

nothing. 
You cannot flay a ftone. 
The chief difeafe that reigns this year is folly. 
A fleepy matter makes his fervant a Lout. 
Better fpeak truth rudely, than lie covertly. 
He that fears leaves, let him not go into the wood. 
One foot is better than two crutches. 
Better fuffer ill, than do ill. 
Neither praife nor difpraife thyfelf, thy actions ferve the 

turn. 
Soft and fair goes far. 
The conftancy of the benefit of the year in their feafons 

argues a Deity. 
Praife none too much, for all are fickle. 
It is abfurd to warm one in his armour. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 327 

Lawfuits confume time, and money, and reft, and 
friends. 

Nature draws more than ten teams. 

He that hath a wife and children, wants not bufmefs. 

A fhip and a woman are ever repairing. 

He that fears death, lives not. 

He that pities another, remembers himfelf. 

He that doth what he mould not, mail feel what he 
would not. 
i He that marries for wealth, fells his liberty. 

He that once hits, is ever bending. 

He that ferves, muft ferve. 

He that lends, gives. 

He that preacheth, giveth alms. 

He that cockers his child, provides for his enemy. 

A .pitiful look afks enough. 

Who will fell the cow, muft fay the word. 

Service is no inheritance. 

The faulty ftands on his guard. 

A kinfman, a friend, or whom you entreat, take not to 
ferve you, if you will be ferved neatly. 

At Court, every one for himfelf. 

To a crafty man, a crafty and a half. 
• He that is thrown, would ever wreftle. 

He that ferves well, need not afk his wages. 

Fair language grates not the tongue. 

A good heart cannot lie. 

Good fwimmers at length are drowned. 

Good land, evil way. 

In doing we learn. 

It is good walking with a horfe in one's hand. 

God, and Parents, and our Matter, can never be re- 
quited. 

An ill deed cannot bring honour. 

A fmall heart hath fmall defires. 

All are not merry that dance lightly. 



328 Herbert's prose works. 

Courtefy on one fide only lafts not long. 

Wine-Counfels feldom profper. 

Weening is not meafure. 

The bell of the fport is to do the deed, and fay nothing. 

If thou thyfelf canft do it, attend no other's help or 

hand. 
Of a little thing, a little difpleafeth. 
He warms too near that burns. 
God keep me from four houfes, a Ufurer's, a Tavern, 

a Spital, and a Prifon. 
In a hundred ells of contention there is not an inch of 

love. 
Do what thou oughteft, and come what come can. 
Hunger makes dinners, paftime fuppers. 
In a long journey ftraw weighs. 
Women laugh when they can, and weep when they 

will. 
War is death's feaft. 
Set good againft evil. 
He that brings good news knocks hard. 
Beat the Dog before the Lion. 
Hafte comes not alone. 
You muft lofe a fly to catch a trout. 
Better a fnotty child than his nofe wiped off. 
He is not free that draws his chain. 
He goes not out of his way that goes to a good inn. 
There comes nought out of the fack, but what was 

there. 
A little given feafonably, excufes a great gift. 
He looks not well to himfelf that looks not ever. 
He thinks not well, that thinks not again. 
Religion, Credit, and the Eye are not to be touched. 
The tongue is not fteel, yet it cuts. 
A white wall is the paper of a fool. 
They talk of Chriftmas fo long, that it comes. 
That is gold which is worth gold. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 920 

It is good tying the fack before it be full. 

Words are women, deeds are men. 

Poverty is no fin. 

A ftone in a well is not loft. 

He can give little to his fervant that licks his knife. 

Promifing is the eve of giving. 

He that keeps his own, makes war. 

The wolf muft die in his own fkin. 

Goods are theirs that enjoy them. 

He that fends a fool, expects one. 

He that can ftay, obtains. 

He that gains well and fpends well, needs no account 
book. 

He that endures is not overcome. 

He that gives all before he dies, provides to fuffer. 

He that talks much of his happinefs, fummons grief. 

He that loves the tree, loves the branch. 

Who haftens a glutton, chokes him. 

Who praifeth St. Peter, doth not blame St. Paul. 

He that hath not the craft, let him fhut up (hop. 

He that knows nothing, doubts nothing. 

Green wood makes a hot fire. 
■ He that marries late, marries ill. 

He that paffeth a winter's day, efcapes an enemy. 

The rich knows not who is his friend. 

A morning Sun, and a Wine-bred child, and a Latin- 
bred woman feldom end well. 

To a clofe fhorn fheep, God gives wind by meafure. 

A pleafure long expected, is dear enough fold. 

A poor man's cow dies a rich man's child. 

The cow knows not what her tail is worth till fhe has 
loft it. 

Choofe a horfe made, and a wife to make. 

It is an ill air where we gain nothing. 

He hath not lived, that lives not afcer death. 

So many men in court, and fo many ftrangers. 



33° Herbert's prose works. 

He quits his place well, that leaves his friend here. 

That which fufficeth is not little. 

Good news may be told at any time, but ill in the 

morning. 
He that would be a gentleman, let him go to an affault. 
Who pays the phyfician does the cure. 
None knows the weight of another's burthen. 
Every one hath a fool in his fleeve. 
One hour's fleep before midnight is worth three after. 
In a retreat the lame are foremoft. 
It is more pain to do nothing than fomething. 
Amongfr. good men two men fuffice. 
There needs a long time to know the world's pulfe. 
The offfpring of thofe that are very young, or very 

old, lafts not. 
A tyrant is moft tyrant to himfelf. 
Too much taking heed is lofs. 
Craft againft craft, makes no living. 
The Reverend are ever before. 
France is a meadow that cuts thrice a year. 
It is eafier to build two chimneys, than to maintain one. 
The Court hath no Almanack. 

He that will enter into Paradife, muft have a good key. 
When you enter into a houfe, leave the anger ever at 

the door. 
He hath no leifure who ufeth it not. 
It is a wicked thing to make a dearth one's garner. 
He that deals in the world needs four fieves. 
Take heed of an ox before, of a horfe behind, of a 

monk on all fides. 
The year does nothing elfe but open and fhut. 
The ignorant hath an Eagle's wings and an Owl's eyes. 
There are more Phyficians in health than drunkards. 
The wife is the key of the houfe. 
The Law is not the fame at morning and at night. 
War and Phyfic are governed by the eye. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 33I 

Half the world knows not how the other half lives. 

Death keeps no Calendar. 

Ships fear fire more than water. 

The leaf! foolifh is wife. 

The chief box of health is time. 

Silks and Satins put out the fire in the chimney. 

The firft blow is as much as two. 

The life of man is a winter way. 

The way is an ill neighbour. 

An old man's ftaff is the rapper of death's door. 

Life is half fpent, before we know what it is. 

The finging man keeps his fhop in his throat. 

The body is more dreffed than the foul. 

The body is fooner dreffed than the foul. 

The Phyfician owes all to the patient, but the patient 
owes nothing to him but a little money. 

The little cannot be great, unlefs he devour many. 

Time undermines us. 

The Choleric drinks, the Melancholic eats, the Phleg- 
matic fleeps. 

The Apothecary's mortar fpoils the luter's mufic. 

Converfation makes one what he is. 

The deaf gains the injury. 

Years know more than books. 

Wine is a turn-coat (firft a friend, then an enemy.) 

Wine ever pays for his lodging. 

Wine makes all forts of creatures at table. 

Wine that coft nothing is digefted before it be drunk. 

Trees eat but once. 

Armour is light at table. 

Good horfes make fhort miles. 

Caftles are Forefts of ftones. 

The dainties of the great are the tears of the poor. 

Parfons are fouls' waggoners. 
t Children when they are little make parents fools, when 
they are great they make them mad. 



332 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

The Mafter abfent, and the houfe dead. 

Dogs are fine in the field. 

Sins are not known till they be acted. 

Thorns whiten, yet do nothing. 

All are prefumed good till they are found in a fault. 

The great put the little on the hook. 

The great would have none great, and the little all 
little. 

The Italians are wife before the deed, the Germans in 
the deed, the French after the deed. 

Every mile is two in winter. 

Spectacles are death's Arquebufe. 
• Lawyers' houfes are built on the heads of fools. 

The houfe is a fine houfe when good folks are within. 

The beft bred have the beft portion. 
The firft and laft frofts are the worft. 
Gifts enter every where without a wimble. 

Princes have no way. 

Knowledge makes one laugh, but wealth makes one 

dance. 
The Citizen is at his bufinefs before he rife. 
The eyes have one language every where. 
It is better to have wings than horns. 
Better be a fool than a knave. 
Count not four, except you have them in a wallet. 
To live peaceably with all, breeds good blood. 
You may be on land, yet not in a garden. 
You cannot make the fire fo low, but it will get out. 
We know not who lives or dies. 

An ox is taken by the horns, and a man by the tongue. 
Many things are loft for want of afking. 
No Church-yard is fo handfome, that a man would 
defire ftraio;ht to be buried there. 

. o 

Cities are taken by the ears. 

Once a year a man may fay, On his confcience. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 333 

We leave more to do when we die, than we have 

done. 
With cuftoms we live well, but laws undo us. 
To fpeak of a Ufurer at the table, mars the wine. 
Pains to get, care to keep, fear to lofe. 
For a morning rain, leave not your journey. 
One fair day in winter makes not birds merry. 
He that learns a trade, hath a purchafe made. 
When all men have what belongs to them, it cannot 

be much. 
Though God foke the fun out of the heaven, yet we 

muft have patience. 
When a man fleeps, his head is in his ftomach. 
When one is on horfeback, he knows all things. 
When God is made the mafter of a family, he orders 

the diforderly. 
When a Lackey comes to helPs door, the Devils lock 

the gates. 
He that is at eafe, feeks dainties. 
He that hath charge of fouls, tranfports them not in 

bundles. 
He that tells his wife news, is but newly married. 
He that is in a town in May lofeth his Spring. 
He that is in a Tavern, thinks he is in a vine-garden. 
He that praifeth himfelf, fpattereth himfelf. 
He that is a mafter, muft ferve (another). 
He that is furprifed with the firft froft, feels it all the 

winter after. 
He a beaft doth die, that hath done no good to his 

country. 
He that follows the Lord, hopes to go before. 
He that dies without the company of good men, puts 

not himfelf into a good way. 
Who hath no head, needs no heart. 
Who hath no hafte in his bufinefs, mountains to him 

feem valleys. 



334 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

Speak not of my debts, unlefs you mean to pay the: 
He that is not in the wars, is not out of danger. 
He that gives me fmall gifts, would have me live. 
He that is his own Counfellor, knows nothing fure but 

what he hath laid out. 
He that hath lands, hath quarrels. 
He that goes to bed thirfty, rifeth healthy. 
Who will make a door of gold, muft knock a nail every 

day. 
A trade is better than fervice. 
He that lives in hope, danceth without mufic. 
To review one's ftore is to mow twice. 
Saint Luke was a Saint and a Phyfician, yet is dead. 
Without bufinefs, debauchery. 
Without danger we cannot get beyond danger. 
Health and ficknefs furely are men's double enemies. 
If gold knew what gold is, gold would get gold, I wis. 
Little loffes amaze, great tame. 
Choofe none for thy fervant who have ferved thy 

betters. 
Service without reward is puniihment. 
If the hufband be not at home, there is nobody. 
An oath that is not to be made, is not to be kept. 
The eye is bigger than the belly. 
If you would be at eafe, all the world is not. 
Were it not for the bone in the leg, all the world would 

turn Carpenters. 
If you muft fly, fly well. 
All that makes falls not. 
All beafts of prey are ftrong, or treacherous. 
If the brain fows not corn, it plants thiftles. 
A man well mounted is ever Choleric. 
Every one is a mafter and fervant. 
A piece of a Church-yard fits every body. 
One mouth doth nothing without another. 
A mafter of ftraw eats a fervant of ft eel. 



i 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 335 

An old cat fports not with her prey. 

A woman conceals what (he knows not. 

He that wipes the child's nofe, kifieth the mother's 
cheek.* 

Gentility is nothing but Ancient Riches. 

To go where the King goes afoot. 

To go upon the Francifcan's Hackney. 

Amiens was taken by the Fox, and retaken by the 
Lion. 

After Death the Doctor. 

Ready money is a ready Medicine. 

It is the Philofophy of the Diftaff. 

It is a fheep of Beery, it is marked on the nofe : applied 
to thofe that have a blow. 

To build caftles in Spain. 

An idle youth, a needy Age. 

Silk doth quench the fire in the Kitchen. 

The words ending in ique^ do mock the Phyfician ; as 
Heitique, Paralitique, Apopledtique, Lethargique. 

He that trufts much Obliges much, fays the Spaniard. 

He that thinks amifs, concludes worfe. 

A man would live in Italy (a place of pleafure) but he 
would choofe to die in Spain, where they fay the Ca- 
tholic Religion is profeffed with greateft ftrictnefs. 

Whatfoever was the father of a difeafe, an ill diet was 
the mother. 

Frenzy, Herefy, and Jealoufy, feldom cured. 

There is no heat of affection but is joined with fome 
idlenefs of brain, fays the Spaniard. 

The War is not done fo long as my Enemy lives. 

Some evils are cured by contempt. 

Power feldom grows old at Court. 

Danger itfelf the beft remedy for danger. 

Favour will as furely periih as life. 

* The proverbs which follow were added to the fecond edition. 



336 Herbert's prose works. 

Fear the Beadle of the Law. 
Herefy is the fchool of pride. 
For the fame man to be a heretic and a good fubjec~t, 

is impoffible. 
Herefy may be eafier kept out than (hook off. 
Infants' manners are moulded more by the example of 

Parents, than by {tars at their nativities. 
They favour learning whofe actions are worthy of a 

learned pen. 
Modefly fets off one newly come to honour. 
No naked man is fought after to be rifled. 
There is no fuch conquering weapon as the neceffity 

of conquering. 
Nothing fecure unlefs fufpected. 
No tie can oblige the perfidious. 
Spies are the ears and eyes of Princes. 
The life of fpies is to know, not be known. 
Religion a {talking horfe to {hoot other fowl. 
It is a dangerous fire begins in the bed ftraw. 
Covetoufnefs breaks the bag. 
Fear keeps and looks to the vineyard, and not the 

owner. 
The noife is greater than the nuts. 
Two fparrows on one Ear of Corn make an ill agree- 
ment. 
The world is now a-days, God fave the Conqueror. 
Unfound minds, like unfound Bodies, if you feed, you 

poifon. 
Not only ought fortune to be pictured on a wheel, but 

every thing elfe in this world. 
All covet, all lofe. 

Better is one Accipe, than twice to fay, Dabo tiki. 
An Afs endures his burden, but not more than his 

burden. 
Threatened men eat bread, fays the Spaniard. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 337 

The beads in the hand, and the Devil in Capuch ; or, 

cape of the cloak. 
He that will do thee a good turn, either he will be gone 

or die. 
I efcaped the Thunder, and fell into the Lightning. 
A man of a great memory without learning, hath a 

rock and a fpindle, and no ftaff to fpin. 
The death of wolves is the fafety of the fheep. 
He that is once born, once muft die. 
He that hath but one eye, muft be afraid to lofe it. 
He that makes himfelf a fheep, fhall be eat by the wolf. 
He that fteals an egg, will fteal an ox. 
He that will be furety, fhall pay. 
He that is afraid of leaves, goes not to the wood. 
In the mouth of a bad dog falls often a good bone. 
Thofe that God loves, do not live long. 
Still fiftieth he that catcheth one. 
All flefh is not venifon. 
A City that parleys is half gotten. 
A dead bee maketh no honey. 
An old dog barks not in vain. 
They that hold the greateft farms, pay the leaft rent : 

(applied to rich men that are unthankful to God.) 
Old Camels carry young Camel's fkins to the market. 
He that hath time and looks for better time, time comes 

that he repents himfelf of time. 
Words and feathers the wind carries away. 
Of a pig's tail you can never make a good ftiaft. 
The Bath of the Blackamoor hathfworn not to whiten. 
To a greedy eating horfe a ftiort halter. 
The Devil divides the world between Atheifm and 

Superftition. 
Such a Saint, fuch an offering. 
We do it foon enough, if that we do be well. 
Ciuelty is more cruel, if we defer the pain. 
W hat one day gives us, another takes away from us. 

z 



338 Herbert's prose works. 

To feek in a fheep five feet when there are but four. 
A fcabbed horfe cannot abide the comb. 
God ftrikes with his finger, and not with all his arm. 
God gives his wrath by weight, and without weight his 

mercy. 
Of a new Prince, new bondage. 
New things are fair. 

Fortune to one is Mother, to another is Stepmother. 
There is no man, though never fo little, but fometimes 

he can hurt. 
The horfe that draws after him his halter, is not alto- 
gether efcaped. 
We muft recoil a little, to the end we may leap the 

better. 
No love is foul, nor prifon fair. 
No day fo clear, but hath dark clouds. 
No hair fo fmall, but hath his fhadow. 
A wolf will never make war againft another wolf. 
We muft love, as looking one day to hate. 
It is good to have fome friends both in heaven and 

hell. 
It is very hard to fhave an egg. 
It is good to hold the afs by the bridle. 
The healthful man can give counfel to the fick. 
The death of a young wolf doth never come too foon. 
The rage of a wild boar is able to fpoil more than one 

wood. 
Virtue flies from the heart of a Mercenary man. 
The wolf eats oft of the fheep that have been warned. 
The moufe that hath but one hole is quickly taken. 
To play at Chefs when the houfe is on fire. 
The itch of difputing is the fcab of the Church. 
Follow not truth too near the heels, left it dafti out thy 

teeth. 
Either wealth is much increafed, or moderation is much 

decayed. 



JACULA PRUDENTUM. 339 

Say to pleafure, Gentle Eve, I will none of your apple. 
When war begins, then hell openeth. 
There is a remedy for everything could men find it. 
There is an hour wherein a man might be happy all his 

life could he find it. 
Great Fortune brings with it great Miffortune. 
A fair day in winter is the mother of a ftorm. 
Woe be to him that reads but one book. 
Tithe, and be rich. 

^ The wrath of a mighty man, and the tumult 

• of the people. 
Mad folks in a narrow place. 
Credit decayed, and people that have nothing. 
Take A young wench, a prophetefs, and a Latin-bred 
heed J woman. 
of I A perfon marked, and a Widow thrice married. 
Foul dirty ways, and long ficknefs. 
Wind that comes in at a hole, and a reconciled 

Enemy. 
. A ftep-mother ; the very name of her fufficeth. 
Princes are venifon in Heaven. 
Critics are like brufhers of Nobleman's clothes. 
He is a great Necromancer, for he afks counfel of the 

Dead : i. e. books. 
A man is known to be mortal by two things, Sleep and 

Luft. 
Love without end, hath no end, fays the Spaniard : 
meaning, if it were not begun on particular ends, it 
would laft. 
Stay awhile, that we may make an end the fooner. 
Prefents of love fear not to be ill taken of ftrangers. 
To feek thefe things is loft labour : Geefe in an oil- 
pot, fat Hogs among Jews, and Wine in a fifhing 
net. 
Some men plant an opinion they feem to eradicate. 
The Philofophy of Princes is to dive into the fecrets of 
z 2 



340 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

Men, leaving the fecrets of nature to thofe that have 

fpare time. 
States have their converfions and periods as well as 

natural bodies. 
Great defer vers grow Intolerable prefumers. 
The love of money and the love of learning rarely 

meet. 
Trull no friend with that you need, fear him as if he 

were your enemy. 
Some had rather lofe their friend than their Jeft. 
Marry your daughters betimes, left they marry them 

felves. 
Soldiers in peace are like chimneys in fummer. 
Here is a talk of the Turk and the Pope, but my next 

neighbour doth me more harm than either of them 

both. 
Civil Wars of France made a million of Atheifts, and 

thirty thoufand Witches. 
We Bachelors laugh and fhow our teeth, but you mar- 
ried men laugh till your hearts ache. 
The Devil never aiTails a man except he find him 

either void of knowledge, or of the fear of God. 
There is nobody will go to hell for company. 
Much money makes a Country poor, for it lets a dearer 

price on everything. 
The virtue of a coward is fufpicion. 
A man's deftiny is always dark. 

Every man's cenfure is firft moulded in his own nature. 
Money wants no followers. 

Your thoughts clofe, and your countenance loofe. 
Whatever is made by the hand of man, by the hand 

of man may be overturned. 






Letters of George Herbert. 



From George Herbert to Mr. H. Herbert.* 



T 



Brother, 1618. 

HE difeafe which I am troubled with now is the 
fhortnefs of time, for it hath been my fortune of 
late to have fuch fudden warning, that I have not lei- 
fure to impart unto you fome of thofe obfervations 
which I have framed to myfelf in converfation ; and 
whereof I would not have you ignorant. As I fhall 
find occafion, you fhall receive them by pieces ; and 
if there be any fuch which you have found ufeful to 
yourfelf, communicate them to me. You live in a 
brave nation, where, except you wink, you cannot but 
fee many brave examples. Be covetous, then, of all 
good which you fee in Frenchmen, whether it be in 
knowledge, or in fafhion, or in words ; for I would 
have you, even in fpeeches to obferve fo much, as 
when you meet with a witty French fpeech, try to 

* " Henry, after he had been brought up in learning, as the 
other brothers were, was lent by his friends into France, where he 
attained the language of that country in perfection, after which 
he came to court, and was made Gentleman of the King's Privy 
Chamber, and Mafter of the Revels ; by which means, as alio by 
a good marriage, he attained to great fortunes, for himfeif and 
his pofterity to enjoy. He alfo hath given leveral proofs of his 
courage in duels, and otherwile, being no lei's dextrous in the 
ways of the Court, as having gotten much by it." — Life of him- 
feif, by Lord Herbert of Cherbury. Henry was the fixth fon. 



342 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

fpeak the like in Englifh : So fhall you play a good 
merchant, by tranfporting French commodities to your 
own country. Let there be no kind of excellency 
which it is poffible for you to attain to, which you 
feek not ; and have a good conceit of your wit, mark 
what I fay, have a good conceit of your wit ; that 
is, be proud, not with a foolifh vaunting of yourfelf 
when there is no caufe, but by fetting a juft price of 
your qualities : And it is the part of a poor fpirit to 
undervalue himfelf and blum. But I am out of my 
time : When I have more time, you mail hear more ; 
and write you freely to me in your letters, for I am 
your ever loving Brother, 

G. Herbert. 

P.S. My Brother is fomewhat of the fame temper, 
and perhaps a little more mild, but you will hardly 
perceive it. 

To my dear Brother, 

Mr. Henry Herbert, at Paris. 



To Sir Henry Herbert. 
Dear Brother, 

IT is fo long fince I heard from you, that I long to 
hear both how you and yours do : and alfo what 
becomes of you this fummer. It is the whole amount 
of this letter, and therefore entertain it accordingly 
from your very affectionate brother, 

G. Herbert. 

7 June, Bemerton. 

My wife's and Nieces' fervice to you. 



LETTERS. 343 

Dear Brother, 

I WAS glad of your Cambridge news, but you joyed 
me exceedingly with your relation of my Lady 
Duchefs's forwardnefs in our Church building. I am 
glad I ufed you in it, and you have no caufe to be 
forry, fince it is God's bufinefs. If there fall out yet 
any rub, you mail hear of me ; and your offering ot 
yourfelf to move my Lords of Manchefter and Bol- 
ingbroke is very welcome to me. To fhow a forward- 
nefs in religious works is a good teftimony of a good 
Spirit. The Lord blefs you, and make you abound 
m every good work, to the joy of your ever loving 
Brother, 

G. Herbert. 
March 21, Bemerton. 

To my dear Brother, 
Sir Henry Herbert, at Court. 



Dear Brother, 

THAT you did not only entertain my propofals, 
but advance them, was lovingly done, and like a 
a good Brother. Yet truly it was none of my mean- 
ing, when I wrote, to put one of our Nieces into your 
hands, but barely what I wrote I meant, and no more ; 
and am glad that although you offer more, yet you 
will do, as you write, that alfo. I was defirous to put 
a good mind into the way of Charity, and that was all 
I intended. For concerning your offer of receiving 
one, I will tell you what I wrote to our eldefl Brother, 
when he urged one upon me, and but one, and that at 
my choice. I wrote to him that I would have both or 
neither ; and that upon this ground, becaufe they were 



344 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

to come into an unknown country, tender in know- 
ledge, fenfe and age, and knew none but one who 
could be no company to them. Therefore I con- 
sidered that if one only came, the comfort intended 
would prove a difcomfort. Since that I have feen the 
fruit of my obfervation, for they have lived fo lovingly, 
lying, eating, walking, praying, working, ftill together, 
that I take a comfort therein ; and would not have to 
part them yet, till I take fome opportunity to let them 
know your love, for which both they fhall, and I do 
thank you. It is true there is a third Sifter, whom to 
receive were the greateft charity of all, for me is 
youngeft, and leaft looked unto ; having none to do it 
but her School-miftrefs, and you know what thofe 
mercenary creatures are. Neither hath fhe any to 
repair unto at good times, as Chriftrnas, &c. which 
you know is the encouragement of learning all the 
year after, except my Coufm Bett take pity of her, 
which yet at that diftance is fome difficulty. If you 
could think of taking her, as once you did, furely it 
were a great good deed, and I would have her conveyed to 
you. But I judge you not : Do that which God fhall 
put into your heart, and the Lord blefs all your pur- 
pofes to his Glory. Yet, truly, if you take her not, I 
am thinking to do it, even beyond my ftrength ; efpe- 
cially at this time, being more beggarly now than I 
have been thefe many years, as having fpent two 
hundred pounds in building ; which to me that have 
nothing yet, is very much. But though I both con- 
fider this, and your obfervation, alfo, of the unthank- 
fulnefs of kindred bred up, (which generally is very 
true,) yet I care not ; I forget all things, fo I may do 
them good who want it. So I do my part to them, 
let them think of me what they will or can. I have 
another Judge, to whom I ftand or fall. If I fhould 
regard fuch things, it were in another's power to de- 



LETTERS. 345 

feat my charity, and evil mould be ftronger than good : 
But difficulties are fo far from cooling Chriftians, that 
they whet them. Truly it grieves me to think of the 
child, how deftitute me is, and that in this neceffary 
time of education. For the time of breeding is the 
time of doing children good : and not as many who 
think they have done fairly, if they leave them a good 
portion after their deceafe. But take this rule, and it 
is an outlandifh one, which I commend to you as being 
now a Father, The beff-bred child hath the beft por- 
tion. Well ; the good God blefs you more and more ; 
and all yours ; and make your Family a Houfeful of 
God's Servants. So prays your ever loving Brother, 

G. Herbert. 
My Wife's and Nieces' fervice. 

To my very dear Brother, 
Sir Henry Herbert, at Court. 



LETTERS WRITTEN AT CAMBRIDGE. 

For my dear fick Sifter.* 

Most dear Sister, 

THINK not my filence forgetfulnefs ; or that my 
love is as dumb as my papers ; though bufinefs 
may ftop my hand, yet my heart, a much better mem- 
ber, is always with you : and which is more, with our 
good and gracious God, incefTantly begging fome eafe 
of your pains, with that earneftnefs, that becomes your 
griefs, and my love. God who knows and fees this 

# She was the wife of Sir Henry Jones, and, after a ficknels of 
fourteen years, died in London. 






346 Herbert's prose works. 

Writing, knows alfo that my foliciting him has been 
much, and my tears many for you ; judge me then by 
thofe waters, and not by my ink, and then you mall 
juftly value your moft truly, moft heartily, afrectionate 
Brother and Servant, 

George Herbert 

Trinity College, December 6, 1620. 



To Sir J. D. * 
Sir, 

THOUGH I had the beft wit in the World, yet 
it would eafily tire me to find out variety of 
thanks for the diverfity of your favours, if I fought to 
do fo ; but I profefs it not : And therefore let it be 
fufficient for me, that the fame heart, which you have 
won long fince, is ftill true to you, and hath nothing 
elfe to anfwer your infinite kindneiTes, but a conftancy 
of obedience ; only hereafter I will take heed how 
I propofe my defires unto you, fince I find you fo 
willing to yield to my requefts ; for, fince your favours 
come a Horfeback, there is reafon that my defires 
fhould go a-foot ; neither do I make any queftion, but 
that you have performed your kindnefs to the full, and 
that the Horfe is every way fit for me, and I will 
ftrive to imitate the completenefs of your love, with 
being in fome proportion, and after my manner, your 
moft obedient Servant, 

George Herbert. 



Sir John Danvers, the fecond hufband of Herbert's mother. 



LETTERS. 347 

Sir, 

I DARE no longer be filent, left while I think I am 
modeft, I wrong both myfelf, and alfo the confi- 
dence my Friends have in me ; wherefore I will open 
my cafe unto you, which I think deferves the reading 
at the leaft ; and it is this, I want books extremely ; 
You know, Sir, how I am now fetting foot into Divi- 
nity, to lay the platform of my future life, and fhall I 
then be fain always to borrow Books, and build on 
another's foundation ? What Tradefman is there who 
will fct up without his Tools ? Pardon my boldnefs, 
Sir, it is a moft ferious Cafe, nor can I write coldly in 
that, wherein confifteth the making good of my former 
education, of obeying that Spirit which hath guided 
me hitherto, and of achieving my (I dare fay) holy 
ends. This alfo is aggravated, in that I apprehend 
what my Friends would have been forward to fay, if I 
had taken ill courfes, Follow your book, and you mail 
want nothing : You know, Sir, it is their ordinary 
fpeech, and now let them make it good ; for fince 
I hope I have not deceived their expectations, let 
not them deceive mine ; But perhaps they will fay, 
You are fickly, you muft not ftudy too hard ; it is 
true (God knows) I am weak, yet not fo, but that 
every day, I may ftep one ftep towards my journey's 
end ; and I love my friends fo well, that if all things 
proved not well, I had rather the fault mould lie on 
me, than on them ; but they will object again, What 
becomes of your Annuity? Sir, if there be any truth 
in me, I find it little enough to keep me in health. 
You know I was fick laft Vacation, neither am I 
yet recovered, fo that I am fain ever and anon, to 
buy fomewhat tending towards my health ; for in- 
firmities are both painful and coftly. Now this Lent 
I am forbid utterly to eat any fifh, fo that I am fain 



348 Herbert's prose works 

to diet in my Chamber at mine own coft ; for in 
our public halls, you know, is nothing but Fifh and 
White-meats ; out of Lent, alfo twice a week, on 
Fridays and Saturdays, I muft do fo, v/hich yet fome- 
times I faft. Sometimes alfo I ride to Newmarket, 
and there lie a day or two for frefh Air ; all which 
tend to avoiding of coftlier matters, if I mould fall 
abfolutely fick : I proteft and vow, I even ftudy 
Thrift, and yet I am fcarce able with much ado to 
make one half year's allowance make hands with the 
other. And yet if a Book of four or five Shillings 
come in my way, I buy it, though I faft for it ; yea, 
fometimes of Ten Shillings : But, alas Sir, what is that 
to thole infinite Volumes of Divinity, which yet every 
day fwell, and grow bigger ? Noble Sir, pardon my 
boldnefs, and confider, but thefe three things. Firft, 
the Bulk of Divinity. Secondly, the time when I 
defire this (which is now, when I muft lay the founda- 
tion of my whole life). Thirdly, what I defire, and 
to what end, not vain pleafures, nor to a vain end. If 
then, Sir, there be any courfe, either by engaging my 
future Annuity, or any other way, I defire you, Sir, to 
be my Mediator to them in my behalf. 

Now I write to you, Sir, becaufe to you I have ever 
opened my heart : and have reafon, by the Patents of 
your perpetual favour to do fo ftill, for I am fure you 
love your faithfulleft Servant, 

George Herbert. 

Trinity College, March 18, 161 7. 



Sir, 

THIS Week hath loaded me with your Favours ; 
I wifh I could have come in perfon to thank 
you, but it is not pofiible ; prefently after Michaelmas, 
I am to make an Oration to the whole Univcrfity of 



LETTERS. 349 

an hour long in Latin, and my Lincoln journey hath 
fet me much behind hand : neither can I (o much as 
go to Bugden, and deliver your Letter, yet I have fent 
it thither by a faithful Meffenger this day : I befeech 
you all, you and my dear Mother and Sifter to pardon 
me, for my Cambridge necemties are ftronger to tie me 
here, than yours to London : If I could poffibly have 
come, none mould have done my meffage to Sir Fr. 
Netherfole for me ; he and I are ancient acquaintance, 
and I have a ftrong opinion of him, that if he can do 
me a courtefy, he will of himfelf ; yet your appearing 
in it, affects me ftrangely. I have fent you here en- 
clofed a Letter from our Mafter on my behalf, which 
if you can fend to Sir Francis before his departure, it 
will do well, for it exprefleth the Univerfity's inclina- 
tion to me ; yet if you cannot fend it with much con- 
venience, it is no matter, for the Gentleman needs no 
incitation to love me. 

The Orator's place (that you may underftand what 
it is) is the fmeft place in the Univerfity, though not 
the gainfulleft : yet that will be about 30/. per annum, 
but the commodioufnefs is beyond the Revenue ; for 
the Orator writes all the Univerfity Letters, makes all 
the Orations, be it to King, Prince, or whatever comes 
to the Univerfity ; to requite thefe pains, he takes place 
next the Doctors, is at all their Affemblies and Meet- 
ings, and fits above the Proctors, is Regent, or Non- 
Regent at his pleafure, and fuch like Gayneffes, which 
will pleafe a young man well. 

I long to hear from Sir Francis, I pray Sir, fend the 
Letter you receive from him to me as foon as you can, 
that I may work the Heads to my purpofe. I hope I 
fhall get this place without all your London helps, of 
which I am very proud, not but that I joy in your 
favours, but that you may fee, that if all fail, yet I am 
able to Hand on mine own legs. Noble Sir, I thank 






350 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

you for your infinite favours, I fear only that I have 
omitted fome fitting circumftance, yet you will pardon 
my hafte, which is very great, though never fo, but 
that I have both time and work to be your extreme 
fervant, 

George Herbert. 



I HAVE received the things you fent me, fafe ; and 
now the only thing I long for is to hear of my dear 
fick Sifter : firft, how her health fares, next, whether 
my peace be yet made with her concerning my unkind 
departure. Can I be fo happy, as to hear of both 
thefe that they fucceed well ? Is it not too much for 
me ? Good Sir, make it plain to her, that I loved her 
even in my departure, in looking to her fon, and my 
charge. I fuppofe fhe is not difpofed to fpend her eye- 
fight on a piece of Paper, or elfe I had wrote to her ; 
when I mall underftand that a Letter will be feafonable, 
my Pen is ready. Concerning the Orator's place, all 
goes well yet, the next Friday it is tried, and accord- 
ingly you mail hear. I have forty bufinefles in my 
hands : your Courtefy will pardon the hafte of your 
humbleft Servant, 

George Herbert. 

Trinity College, January 19, 161 9. 

Sir, 

I UNDERSTAND by Sir Francis Netherfole's 
Letter, that he fears I have not fully refolved of 
the matter, fince this place being civil may divert me 
too much from Divinity, at which, not without caufe, 
he thinks I aim : but, I have wrote him back, that this 



LETTERS. 351 

dignity hath no fuch earthinefs in it, but it may very 
well be joined with Heaven : or if it had to others, 
yet to me it mould not, for aught I yet knew ; and 
therefore I defire him to fend me a direct anfwer in his 
next Letter. I pray, Sir, therefore, caufe this enclofed 
to be carried to his brother's houfe of his own name 
(as I think) at the fign of the Pedler and the Pack on 
London-bridge, for there he afligns me. I cannot yet 
find leifure to write to my Lord, or Sir Benjamin 
Ruddyard ; but I hope I fhall fhortly, though for the 
reckoning of your favours, I fhall never find time and 
paper enough, yet am I your readieft Servant, 

George Herbert. 

Trinity College, October 6, 1619. 

I remember my moft humble duty to my Mother, 
who cannot think me lazy, fince I rode 200 miles to 
fee a Sifter, in a way I knew not, and in the midft of 
much bufinefs, and all in a Fortnight, not long fince. 



To the truly noble Sir J. D. 
Sir, 

I UNDERSTAND by a Letter from my brother 
Henry, that he hath bought a parcel of Books for 
me, and that they are coming over. Now though 
they have hitherto travelled upon your charge, yet if 
my Sifter were acquainted that they are ready, I dare 
fay fhe would make good her promife of taking five or 
fix pounds upon her, which fhe hath hitherto deferred 
to do, not of herfelf, but upon the want of thofe Books 
which were not to be got in England -, for that 
which furmounts, though your noble difpofition is infi- 
nitely free, yet I had rather fly to my old ward, that if 
any courfe could be taken of doubling my Annuity now, 



352 Herbert's prose works. 

upon condition that I fhould furceafe from all title to 
it, after I entered into a Benefice, I fhould be moft 
glad to entertain it, and both pay for the furplufage of 
thefe Books, and for ever after ceafe my clamorous and 
greedy bookiih requefts. It is high time now that I 
mould be no more a burden to you, fince I can never 
anfwer what I have already received ; for your favours 
are fo ancient, that they prevent my memory, and yet 
ftill grow upon your HumbleP: Servant, 

George Herbert. 

I remember my moft humble duty to my Mother, I 
have wrote to my dear fick Sifter this week already, 
and therefore now I hope may be excufed. 

I pray, Sir, pardon my boldnefs of enclofing my 
brother's Letter in yours, for it was becaufe I know 
your Lodging, but not his. 



To the Right Hon. the Lady Anne, Countefs 

of Pembroke and Montgomery, 

at Court. 

Madam, 

WHAT a trouble hath your goodnefs brought on 
you, by admitting our poor fervices ! now 
they creep in a Veffel of Metheglin, and ftill they will 
be prefenting or wifhing to fee, if at length they may 
find out fomething not unworthy of thofe hands at 
which they aim. In the mean time a Prieft's bleffing, 
though it be none of the Court ftyle, yet, doubtlefs, 
Madam, can do you no hurt: Wherefore the Lord 
make good the blefling of your mother upon you, and 
caufe all her wifhes, diligence, prayers and tears, to 
bud, blow, and bear fruit in your Soul, to his glory, 



LETTERS. 353 

your own good, and the great joy of, Madam, your 
mofl faithful Servant in Chrift Jefu, 

George Herbert. 

Dec. 10, 163 1. Bemerton. 

Madam, Your poor Colony of Servants prefent their 
humble duties. 



FROM THE PUBLIC ORATOR'S BOOK, 
CAMBRIDGE. 

Ad R. Naunton, Secret. 
Gratiae de Fluvio. 

Vir Honoratissime, 

QUANTA Hilaritate afpicit Alma Mater filios fuos 
jam emancipatos, confervantes fibi Illos Fontes, 
a quibus ipfi olim hauferunt ? Quis enim ficca ubera 
et mammas arentes tarn nobilis parentis, aequo animo 
ferre poffet ? neque fane dubitamus ulli, fi prae defectu 
aquae commeatufque inopia defererentur collegia, pul- 
cherrimaeque Mufarum domus tanquam viduae eftoetae, 
aut ligna exucca et marcida, alumnis fuis orbarentur, 
quin communes Reipublicae Lachrymae alterum nobis 
Fluvium effunderent. Quare plurimum debemus con- 
ftantiae favoris tui qui reftinxifti fitim exarefcentium 
Mufarum et Xerxes iftos, alterofque maris quafi flagel- 
latores expugnatos, fufofque nobis dedifti. Quid enim 
invident aquas, quas non nobis habemus fed irrigati ipfi 
univerfum regnum afpergimus. Sed aliorum injuriae 
tuarum Virtutum pabula funt, qui lemas iftas et feftucas, 
Reipublicae oculo haeren^s tarn diligenter amoves ; 
certe adeo feftinafti ad gr atitudines tuas cum emolu- 

A A 



354 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

mento noftro conjun&as, ut jam compenfemur abunde, 
neque amplius quaerendum fit Tibi, Almae Nutrici 
quid reponas. 



Ad Ful. Grevil. 

Giatiae de Fluvio. 
VlR HoNORATISSIME, 

SCITE et appofite fecifti Fluvium noftrum confer- 
vans altero eloquential Fluvio, paludumque iftos 
ficcatores, (folem officio fuo privantes) vi verborum 
Tuorum obruens. Neque fane quifquam incedit Te 
inftructior ad omnem caufam, paratiorve five a docirina, 
five ab ufu ; utrinque mirus es et exercitatiflimus : 
quare nos tertium praedictis adjungimus Gratiarum Flu- 
vium, de humanitate tua fingulari, ftudioque in nos jam 
olim perfpectiflimo, quippe qui eximie femper fovifti 
literatos, eofque cum tineis et blattis rixantes, exuens 
pulvere in theatrum et lucem produxifti. Tantum ro- 
gamus, ut pergas, et inter novos honorum cumulos, 
quod expecT:amus indies futurum, Almas Matris amorem 
tecum fimul evehas. Interim, fi qui alii exurgant pro- 
miffores magnifici et hiantes, qui fub fpecie publici 
commodi, Academiae incommodum videnter allaturi ; 
os importunorum hominum Authoritate tua plurima et 
Eloquentia non minori nobis obftrue. 



Ad R. Naunton. 
Gratiac de Fluvio et de tegendis Te£Ks Stramineis. 
VlR HONORATISSIME, 

XIMIA tua in nos merita frequentiorem calamum 
poftulant, fi tantum honori Tuo fupereffet otii ad 



E 



LETTERS. 355 

legendum, quantum a nobis ad fcribendum, cum huma- 
nitatis Tuae, turn gratitudinis noftrae ratio poftulat. Sed 
Veremur, ne literae noftrae animo Tuo tot negotiis 
meritimme diftincto, tempore non fuo obrepant : tibi- 
que non tarn avide veterum beneficiorum memoriam 
recolenti, quam cogitanti nova improbe moleftiam 
creent. Ouare conjunximus nunc officia noftra, tuof- 
que favores temporibus et diligentia divifos in gratiis 
noftris copulavimus : nam utramque illam curam in- 
fignem, tarn de confervando Fluvio noftro, quam de 
muniendis contra graffantes flammas aedificiis Honori 
Tuo acceptam ferimus : plurimumque fufpicimus cu 
mulum Amoris Tui, qui utrumque curafti, ut neque 
fitirent Mufae, neque flagrarent : quod fi tarn integrum 
tibi effet gratificari nobis in terra et aere, quam in aqua 
et igne fecifti, non dubitamus quin benignitas tua omnia 
elementa percurreret. Tu vero macTie honoribus, 
gloria, id enim noftra intereft, ut hoc precemur, aut 
enim mifere fallimur aut tantum de nullo unquam Filio 
Alma Mater, quantum de Te fibi polliceatur. 



Gratulatio de Marchionatu ad Bucking. C. 

A. D. 1619. 

Illustrissime Domine, 

ECQUID inter tot gloriae titulos caput undique 
munientes meminifti magiftrum Te efTe Artium ? 
an inter lauros principis hederae noftrae ambitiofae locus 
eft, hunc quidem gradum pignus habes amoris noftri, 
haec eft anfa qua prehendimus Te, et tanquam aquilam 
inter novas honorum nubes e confpeftu noftro fugien- 
tem revocamus. Tu vicimm abunde compenfas nos, 
gratiflimoque A Imam Matrem profequeris animo : proin 

A A 2 



356 Herbert's prose works. 

ut Fluvii quas aquas a Fonte accipiunt non retinent 
ipfi, fed in mare dimittunt ; Sic Tu etiam dignitates ab 
optimo Rege defumptas in univerfam Rempublicam 
diffundis : per Te illucet nobis Jacobus nofter. Tu 
aperis ilium populo et cum ipfe fis in fumma arbore, 
altera manu prehendis Regem, alteram nobis ad radices 
haerentibus porrigis : Quare, meritiffime Marchio, 
Tuam gloriam cenfemus noftram et in honoribus Tuis 
noftro bono gratulamur \ quanquam quern alium fructum 
potuimus expectare ab Eo in quern favor Regius, noftra 
vota virtutes tantae confluxerunt : inter quae etiam cer- 
tamen oritur et pia contentio, utrum gratia Principis 
virtutes tuas, aut noftra vota gratiam Principis, aut 
Tuae virtutes et vota noftra et Principis gratiam fupe- 
rarent. Nimirum ut lineae quamvis diverfa via, omnes 
tamen ad centrum properant. Sic difparatae foelicitates 
hinc a populo illinc a Principe in Te conveniunt, et 
confabulantur. Quare quomodo alii molem hanc laetitiae 
fuae exprimant, ipfi viderint : nos certe precamur, ut 
neque virtutibus tuis defint honores neque utrifque vita, 
ufquedum, poftquam omnes honorum gradus hie per- 
curreris, aeternum illud prasmium confequare, cui neque 
addi quicquam poteft, neque detrahi. 



Ad F. Bacon, Cancell. 

Gratias de Inftaurationis Libro Academia? donato. 
4 Nov. 1620. 

Illustrissime Domine, 

PROLEM tuam fuavifTimam, nuper in lucem pub- 
licam, noftramque prasfertim, editam non gremio 
loium (quod innuis) fed et ambabus ulnis, ofculifque ei 
aetati debitis excipientes, protinus tanquam Nobilem 



LETTERS. 357 

Filium (more noftro) magiftrum artium renunciaVimus. 

Optime enim hoc convenit Partui tuo, qui novas Sci- 
entiarum regiones, terrafque veteribus incognitas primus 
demonftrat ; ex quo illuftrius affecutus es nomen, quam 
repertores novi orbis compararunt. Illi terram inve- 
nerunt, cralTiflimum elementum ; Tu fubtilitates artium 
infinitas. Illi barbara omnia, Tu non nifi cultiflima, 
elegantiafque ipfas exhibes. Illi magnetica acu freti 
funt. Tu penetrantiori intelle£lus acumine, cujus nifi 
incredibilis fuiffet vis, nunquam in tantis negotiis, qui- 
bus meritiflime diftrictus es, ea quae fugerunt tot phi- 
lofophos umbra et otio diifluentes, eruiffes. Quare 
multiplex eft laetitia noftra ; primo gratulamur optimo 
Regi noftro, qui profpicit, ut cum ipfe eruditionis Prin- 
ceps fit, illi etiam honores qui finitimi funt, et quafi 
accolae Majeftatis, literaturae fuae, et vicinitati refpon- 
deant : dein Hon. Tuo gratulamur, qui filio auffcus es 
tali ingenio praedito : turn Academiae noftrae, quae per 
Tuum Partum, ex Matre nunc Avia fa£ta eft : denique 
huic aetati quae talem virum protulit, cum quinque 
millibus annorum de palma certantem. Id unum dole- 
mus, Bibliothecam noftram rudiorem efl'e impexiorem- 
que, quam ut tantum Hofpitem excipiat : utcunque 
cum olim ab * Archiepifcopo Eboracenfi Summo An- 
gliae Cancellario extructa fuerit : illam nunc denuo ex 
aedibus Eboracenfibus ab altero Cancellario Inftaurari, 
inter Arcana providentiae plane reponimus. Faxit Deus 
ut quos profectus feceris in Sphaera Naturae, facias 
etiam in Gratiae ; utque mature abfolvas quae complexus 
es animo, ad ejus gloriam, Reipublicae emolumentum, 
aeternitatem nominis Tui fubfidiumque. 

Magnificentiae Tuae devotiffimorurr? 
Procancellarii 
Reliq. 

* Rotheram. 






358 Herbert's prose works. 

Ad T. Coventry, Attorn. 
Cognitor. Gratulatio, 29 Jan. 1620. 

Clarissime Vir, 

PERMITTE ut nos etiam in praedam partemque 
tecum veniamus : neque enim fie effugies cum 
honoribus, quin laetitia noftra te affequeter \ certe non 
diu eft ex quo gratulati fumus tibi ; eccum nunc altera 
occafio, adeo feftinat virtus tua : quod fi tertia detur et 
quarta, paratos nos habebis ad gratulationem, ut fie una 
opera utriufque Reipublicae calculum et civilis et lite- 
rariae adipifcaris. Tu vero promptitudinem amoris 
noftri non paflim expofitam boni confulas, curefque ut 
tuus in nos amor antehac fatis perfpectus, nunc cum 
honore geminetur. Quod fi forenfe quippiam nos 
fpeftans, dum incumbis muneri, occurrat, nos chartis 
et aeternitate occupatos, temporariis hifce negotiolis 
libera. Haud fruftra impendes operam nobis, omnia 
favorum tuorum momenta apicefque perpenfuris et 
compenfaturis. 

Ad R. Naunt. Burgeff. EleSt. 
13 Jan. 1620. 

Honoratissime Domine, 

TAM eximie de nobis meritus es, ut res noftras 
omnes cum honore Tuo conjunctas effe velimus. 
Quare frequentiflimo Senatu, pleniffimis fuffragiis ele- 
gimus Te tribunum Parliamentarium nos noftraque 
omnia privilegia, fundos, edificia, univerfam Mufarum 
fupelleftilem, etiam Fluvium non minus de praeterito 
gratum, quam de futuro fupplicem, integerrimae tuae 
fidei commendantes. Magna eft haec neque quotidianae 



LETTERS. 359 

virtutis provincia gerere perfonam Academiae, omnium- 
que Artium molem et pondus fuftinere, fed perfpedtifli- 
mus tuus in nos amor praeftantiflimaeque animi dotes 
effecerunt, ut Alma Mater libentiflime caput reclinet in 
tuo finu, oculufque Reipub. poftquam circumfpiciens 
reperiffet Te, quafi in tuis palpebris acquiefcat. Quare 
nos omnes ad prudentiae eloquentiaeque tuae prefidium 
feftinantes excipe : Antiquitas praeripuit Tibi gloriam 
extruendae Academiae, reliquit confervandae. Deus 
faveat Tibi et concedat ut terreftres tui honores cum 
cceleftibus certent et fuperentur. 



Gratulatio ad Mountag. Thefaurar. 
18 Dec. 1620. 

Illustrissime Domine, 
ENDULAM hanc dignitatem diu expectantem 



p 



magnas aliquas virtutes tandem mentis tuis votif- 
que noftris confpirantibus obtinuifti. Quis enim 
rec~Hus Thefauris Regiis praefici poflit, quam qui juf- 
titiam prius tanto cum honore atque acclamatione 
adminiftrans, diftribuendi modum omnem rationem- 
que callet ? Et licet, quo proprior fis Regi, eo vide- 
aris nobis remotior, confidimus tamen ut arbores 
quanto altius crefcant, tanto etiam altius agant ra- 
dices : fie merita tua ita afcenfura, ut eorum vis et 
virtus ad nos defcendat. Quare fumme gratulamur 
tibi de novo hoc cumulo honorum, qui tamen votis 
noftris nondum refpondent. Ea eft enim pertinacia 
defideriorum noftrorum, atque immortalitas, ut Temper 
poft novas dignitates, alias tibi quaerant et moliantur. 
Nimirum id afiecuta funt merita Tua maxima, ut 
Almam Matremfpe nova gravidam Temper atque praeg- 



360 Herbert's prose works. 

nante effecerint. Tantum quocunque Domine afcen- 
das 5 fume tecum amorem ilium quo foles beare 

Amplitudini tuae devotiflimos 

Procancellarium. 

Rel. 



Gratulatio ad Heath, Solicitor. 
Procurator. 29 Jan. 1620. 
VlR DlGNISsIME, 

SIC a natura comparatum eft, ignis et virtus femper 
afcendunt, utriufqe enim fplendor et claritas hu- 
milia loca deprecantur. Quare optime fecit Rex Sere- 
niffimus, qui virtutes tuas magnis negotiis et pares 
provexit, noluitque ut minori Sphaera quam pro latudine 
meritorum tuorum circumfcribereris. Nos vero de hoc 
tuo progreffu non minus Reipublicae gratulamur quam 
tibi, rogamufque ut quando beneficia tua pervagantur 
jingliam, nos etiam invifant : ita excipiemus ilia, ut 
benignius hofpitium, et erga te propenfius, haud ufquam 
forfitan reperias. 



[Jacobo Regi] Gratiae de Scriptis fuis* 
Academiae donatis. 18 Maii, 1620. 

Serenissime Domine Noster, 
Jacobe Invictissime 



E 



CQUID inter tantas mundi trepidationes nobis 
et Mufis vacas ? O prudentiam incomparabilem, 



* " The firft notable occafion of Ihowing his fitnefs for this em- 
ployment of Orator, was manifefted in a letter to King James, 
upon the occafion of his fending that univerfity his book, called 



LETTERS. ^6l 

quae eodum vultu et moderatur mundum et nos refpi- 
cit. Circumfpice, fi placet, tcrrarum reges, mutus eft 
mundus univerfus, veflra folum dextra (quamvis a 
fcriptione terreftribufque iftis fublimitate folii afferta) 
vita et actione orbem vegetat. Anguftior erat Scotia, 
quam ut pennas nido plene explicare pofles : quid Tu 
inde ? Britannicas infulas omnes occupafti : hoc etiam 
imperium tenuius eft quam pro amplitudine virtutum 
veftrarum; nunc itaque Liber hie vefter diktat po- 
moeria, fummovet Oceanum ambientem, adeo ut qui 
non fubjiciunturditioni, eruditioni veftrae obtemperent : 
per hunc imperas orbi univerfo, viitoriaeque gloriam, 
abfque crudelitate effuii fanguinis delibas. Haec veftra 
fpolia, acfofque ex orbe triumphos communicas cum 
Alma Matre, utrumque fplendorem cum beneficio nof- 
tro conjungis : fane, geftabaris anteain cordibus noftris : 
fed Tu vis etiam manibus teri, femotaque Majeftate, 
charta confpiciendum Te praebes, quo familiarius inter 
nos verferis. O, mirificam Clementiam ! ^Edificarunt 
olim nobis Sereniflimi Reges collegia, eaque fundarunt 
ampliflimis praediis, immunitatibus ; etiam libros dede- 
runt, fed non fuos ; aut fi fuos, quia dederunt, non a 
fe compofitos, fcriptos, editofque : quum tamen Tu 
invaferis eorum gloriam confervando nobis quae ill i 
dederunt, etiam augendo : interim veftra hac fcribendi 
laude intacta manente atque illibata. Cujus favoris 
magnitudo ita involvit nos, ut etiam rependendi vias 
omnes prcecludat. Quae enim alia fpes reliqua erat, 



Bafilicon Doron. This letter was writ in fuch excellent Latin, 
was i'o full of conceits, and all the expreffions fo fuited to the 
genius of the king, that he inquired the orator's name, and then 
afked William, Earl of Pembroke, if he knew him ? whofe 
aniwer was, ( That he knew him very well, and that he was his 
kinrman.'' The king fmiled, and alked the earl leave • That he 
might love him too, for he took him to be the jewel of that 
univerfity/ " — Isaak Walton, 



3^2 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

quam ut pro infinitis veftris in nos benefices Majefta- 
tem veftram aeternitati in fcriptis noftris certiffime 
traderemus ? Nunc vero Ipfe, fcribendo irrupifti in 
compenfationes noftras, et abftulifti : adeon' es proedo 
omnis glorias, ut ne gratitudinis laudem nobis relique- 
ris ? Quid agimus ? hoc faltem folutio eft ; Nos nunc 
confperfi atramento regio, nihil non fublime et excelfum 
cogitabimus, perrumpemus controverfias omnes, fuper- 
abimus quofcunque. Jam dari nobis vellemus Je- 
fuitam aliquem, ut ex affric~T.u Libri veftri hominem 
illico contundamus. Quare amplecliimur, fovemus, 
exofculamur, hunc foetum veftrum, hunc alterum Ca- 
rolum, hunc fafciculum Prudentiae, pofitum extra 
mortalitatis aleam, et quo magis Tuum agnofcas, in 
ipfo partu, Librorum regem creatum. Diruuntur aedi- 
ficia, corrumpuntur ftatuae, haec imago atque character, 
tempore melior, injurias feculi fcriptaque hac iliac per- 
euntia fecurus praeterit. Si enim in regno veftro 
Hibernico lignum nafcitur permanens centra omnia 
venena validum : quanto magis virtutes iftae in Do- 
minium agri tranfferendae funt, ut fie fcripta veftra 
omni dente turn edacis temporis, turn venenatorum 
haereticorum, infita vi fua liberentur. Quod fupereft, 
precamur, S. S. Trinitatem, ut veftras coronae civili et 
literarias tertiam cceleftem fero adjungat. 

Humillimi fervi, fubditique veftri Procancellarius 
Reliquufque Senatus Cantabrigienfis. 

Datae freq. Senatu xin° Cal. Jun. A.D. 
CI0.I3.CXX. 

Peregrinis Academicis noftram invifentibus. 

Quid Vaticanam Bodleiumque objicis, Hofpes ? 

Unicus eft nobis Bibliotheca Liber. 



LETTERS. 353 

Gratiae de Fluvio contra Redemptores. 
1620, Jun. 14.. 
Serenissime Domine NoSTER, 
Jacobe Potentissme ! 

INFINITA veftra in nos Beneficia non folum verba 
omnia, fed etiam cogitationes noftras exhauriunt. 
Quis enim impetus animi celeritatem tantae munificen- 
tiae aflequi poteft ? quippe qui univerfum tempus nof- 
trum (forfitan quo alacrius illud impenderemus 
Doctrinae) beneficiis etiam obligafti. Nuper enim 
dedifti nobis Librum, pleniflimum Mufarum, quae cum 
olim gauderent Fluviis nunc etiam aquas, in quibus 
habitant, impertis ! Quanta rotunditas Clementiae 
veftrae, quae ab omni parte nobis fuccurrit ! Quod fi 
Artaxerxes olim paululum aquae a Linaeta fubjedto fuo 
laetirlime fumeret, quanto magis par eft nos, humillimos 
fubjectos, integro Fluvio a Rege noftro donatos, tri- 
umphare ? Tantum Majeftatem veftram fubjecliflime 
oramus, ut fi ofrlcia noftra minus refpondeant magni- 
tudini beneficiorum, imbecillitati id noftrae, quae fafti- 
gium regiarum notionum aequare nunquam poteft, non 
voluntati tribuendum exiftimes. 



Ad F. Bacon, Cancell.* 
Gratiae de Fluvio. 

Illustrissime Domine, 

SICCAM animam fapientiflimam effe dixit obfcurus 
ille philofophus > fane exorti funt nuperi quidam 

* Herbert became known to Lord Bacon during the king's 
vifit to the Univerfity, when the great fecretary of Nature and all 
Learning, ,, as Walton calls him, "did begin a defired friendrtrip 
with our Orator;" who tranflated into Latin a part of the Ad- 
vancement of Learning, and was honoured by the author with 
the dedication of ibme very unmulical Pl'alms. 



364 Herbert's prose works. 

homines, qui libenter fapentiores nos redderent : fed fi 
ablatus fuiflet Fluvius nofter, per quem vicini agri 
opulentia fruimur, veremur ne non tam fapientes nos, 
quam obfcuros philofophos reddidiffent. Quis enim 
tunc inviferet Almam Matrem deftitutam omni corn- 
meatu ? opportune his tenebris Favor tuus occurrit, 
illuftrans nos omnes 9 lumenque accendens de fuo iumine. 
Ut Nihilo minus Tibi luceat, cum nobis accenderit. 
Neque enim paflus es ilium Fluvium, qui tantae poeticae, 
tantae eruditionis nobis confcius eft, paluftri opere ut 
uliginofo intercipi : cum non eft tanti totus ille mariti- 
mus tractus (Oceani praeda et deliciae) ut irrigui Mufa- 
rum horti, floribus fuis fternentes Rempublicam, prae 
ariditate flaccefcerent. 9bd ficcitas anni hujus derifit 
incceptum et plus effecit quam mille Redemptores 
exequi poffent. Quanquam non mirari non poffumus, 
unde fit ut nullus fere elabatur dies, qui non hoftes 
aliquos nobis aperiat ; quidam ftomachantur praedia, 
alii immunitates carpunt, nonnulli Fluvium invident, 
multi Academias integras fubverfas volunt, neque illi e 
faece vulgi tantum qui eruditionem fimplicitati Chrifti- 
anae putant adverfam, fed homines nobiliores ignorantiae, 
qui literas imminuere fpiritus, generofofque animos 
frangere et retundere clamitant. Tu vero Patrone 
nofter, qui elegantias doclirinae nitoremque fpirans, pur- 
puram et eruditionem mifcuifti : dilue, fuga hos omnes 
praefertim fericatam hanc ftultitiam contere, Academiae- 
que jura, dignitatem, Fluvium placidiffimo favorum 
tuorum afflatu nobis tuere : quod quidem non minus 
expe&amus a Te, quem fingularis docTirina exemit a 
populo, et quafi mixtam perfonam reddidit quam fi 
Epifcopi more priftino Cancellis praeficerentur. 



LETTERS. 365 

Ad Archiep. Cantuar. 
De Bibliopolis Lond. 29 Jan. 1620. 

Sanctissime Pater, 

CUM caeterae ecclefiae tarn perfpicaci diligentia in- 
cubes, concede ut nos etiam benignitate alarum 
tuarum et virtute fruamur ; praefertim hoc tempore in 
quo paucorum avaritia liberalibus artibus dominatura 
eft, nifi humanitas tua,* fuperiori aeftate fponte fuavi- 
terque patefacta, nunc etiam laborantibus mufis fuc- 
currat. Ferunt enim Londinenfes Bibliopolas fuum 
potius emolumentum quam publicum fpectantes, (quae 
res et naturae legibus et hominum fumme contrarie eft) 
monopoliis quibufdam inhiare, ex quo timemus librorum 
precia auctum iri, et privilegia noftra imminutum. 
Nos igitur hoc metu affecli, uti fanguis folet in re dubia 
ad cor feftinare, ita ad Te confugimus primariam 
partem ecclefiaftici corporis, orantes ut quicquid con- 
filii avaritia ceperit adverfus aut immunitates noftras aut 
commune literarum et literatorum commodum, id omne 
dexterrima tua in obeundis rebus prudentia diflipetur. 
Deus Opti. Max. tua beneficia, quae nos folvendo non 
fumus, in fuas tabulas accepti tranfferat. 

Ad Fr. Bacon, Cancell. 
De Bibliop. Lond. 29 Jan. 1620. 

Illustrissime Domine, 

TU quidem Temper Patronus nofter es, etiam tacen- 
tibus nobis, quanto magis cum rogamus, idque 
pro Libris de quibus nufquam rectius quam apud Te 
agitur. Accepimus enim Londinenfes Librarios omnia 

* Ferina mifla. 



366 Herbert's prose works. 

tranfmarina fcripta ad monopolium revocare moliri, 
neque ratione habita chartae noftrae a Sereniflimo Prin- 
cipe Henrico 8° indultae, neque Studioforum Sacculi, 
qui etiam nunc maeret et ingemifcit, Ecquid permittis, 
Domine ? Curafti tu quidem Inftauratione tua, quo 
minus exteris Libris indigeremus, fed tamen comparatio 
et in honorem tuum cedet, noftrumque emolumentum. 
Quare unice obfecramus, ut qui tot fubfidia attuleris 
ad progreffum doclirinae, hac etiam in parte nobis opi- 
tuleris. Afpicis multitudinem Librorum indies glifcen- 
tem, praefertim in Theologia, cujus Libri ft alii aliis 
(tanquam montes olim) imponerentur, veri fimile eft, 
eos illuc quo cognitio ipfa pertingit afcenfuros. Quod 
fi et numerus Scriptorum intumefcat, et pretium, quae 
abyffus crumenae tantos fumptus aequabit ! Jam vero 
miferum eft, pecuniam retardare illam, cui natura 
fpiritum dederit, feracem gloriae, et coelefte ingenium 
quafi ad metalla damnari. Qui augent precia Libro- 
rum, profunt vendentibus libros non ementibus, hoc 
eft ceffatoribus non ftudiofis. Haec tu omnium optime 
vides, quare caufam noftram nofque ipfos Tibi, Teque 
Deo Opti. Maxi. intimis precibus commendamus. 



Gratulatio ad F. Leigh. 
Capitalem Juftitiarium Angl. (Camden), 6 Feb. 1620. 

Honoratissime Domine, 

FAMA promotionis tuae gratiflime appulit ad nos 
omnes haud ita certe ftudiis chartifque obvolutos, 
quin aures noftra tibi pateant. Imo prorfus cenfemus 
permultum intereffe aiacritatis publicae, ut bonorum 
praemia citiffime promulgentur, quo fuavius virtutibus, 
tuo exemplo compenfatis, unum omnes incumbamus. 
Quare tarn vere quam libenter gratulamur tibi, nee 



LETTERS. 367 

minus etiam Reipublicae, quam hunc pleno gradu in- 
grediens beneficiis tuis percurres. Nos etiam haud 
minimam favoris tui partem fperamus, orantes ut im- 
munitates noftrae a ferenifTimis Regibus conceflae, ab 
Auguftiflimo Jacobo au£t.ae tua opera conferventur ; 
eadem manus et tuum tibi largitus eft honorem, et 
privilegia noftra confirmavit ; in qua dextra et fide con- 
junct^ in caeteris haud divellamur. Quod fi oppidani 
noftri (more fuo) Mufarum jura et diplomata arrodant ; 
tuus amor et authoritas iftos forices nobis abigat. 
Demofthenes Athenienfis doluit fe victum opificum 
antelucana induftria, noftrae etiam Athenae artefque 
obfcuris opificum artibus fuperari dolebunt. Sed tua 
humanitas haec nobis expediet. Deus fortunet tibi 
hunc honorem, et faxit, ut tibi gloriae fit, omnibus 
faluti. 



Gratulatio ad Cranfield, Thefaurar. 
8 oa. 1621. 

Illustrissime Domine, 

CONCEDE ut Honoribus nuperis, tanquam par- 
tubus Virtutum Tuarum, Alma Mater accurrens 
gratuletur : folent enim Studioforum fuffragia enixus 
gloriae follicitudine in futurum plenos haud parum 
levare ; praefertim quum ipfi non folum rectum de bene- 
merentibus judicium haufifle ab antiquis, fed et ad 
pofteros tranfmiflnri videantur. Quare poft principis 
manum honoribus refertam, non eft quod noftram 
quoque, cum amoris fymbolo feftinantem, recufes. Sic 
apud veterum aras, poft ingentes Hecatombas, exiguam 
thuris micam adoleri legimus. Tu Domine vicifti ? 
tuere nos ita ut fortunae noftrae, intra ambitum amplex- 
ufque felicitatis Tuae receptae, communi calore fove- 



368 Herbert's prose works. 

antur. Et cum ob perfpicacitatem fingularem jam olim 
Regi notam atque fignatam digniffime praeficiaris Fifco 
ctiam Academiam in Thefauris habe : juftiflime potes 
fub hoc Principe, in quo doclxinae frucT:us atque ufus 
mirifice relucet : certe, fi quantum eruditio Regis pro- 
fuerit Reipublicae, tantum favoris nobis impertias, 
abunde fuccurres 

Magnificentiae tuae addic~tiflimis, 
Procancellario. 
Rel. 



Ad Lane. Andrewes Epifc* 
(From the Britifti Mufeum MS. Sloan, No. 118.) 

Sanctissime Pater, 

STATIM a folatio afpectus tui, ego auctior jam 
gaudio atque diftentior, Cantabrigiam redii. Quid 
enim manerem ? Habui viaticum favoris tui, quod 
longiori multo itineri fufficeret. Nunc obrutus Acade- 
micis negotiis, aegre hoc tempus illis fuccido : non quin 
pectus meum plenum tui lit, atque effufiffimum in 
omnia ofiicia, quae praeftet, mea parvitas ; fed ut faci- 
lius ignofcas occupato calamo, qui etiam ferians nihil 
tua perfectione dignum procudere poilit. Utcunque 
tua lenitas non ita interpretabitur mea haec fcribendi 
intervalla, ac fi juvenili potius impetu correptus, quam 
adductus maturo confilio, primas dedifTem literas, 

* Herbert's friendfhip with Andrewes began at Cambridge, 
when the Bifhop attended the king in his progrefs. Walton 
fpeaks of a letter written by Herbert in Greek, about predeftina- 
tion and a holy life, which Andrewes " put into his bolbm, ,, and 
often mowing it to fcholars, " did always return it to the place 
where he firft lodged it, and continued it fo near his heart till the 
laft day of his liFe." This letter has not been recovered. 



LETTERS. 369 

ideoque praefervida ilia defideria filentio fuo fepulta 
nunc languefcere, ut halitus tenuiores folent, qui primo 
caloris fuafu excitati atque expergefacti, ubi furfum 
proceflerint paulo, frigefaiti demum relabuntur. Hoc 
quidem illis accidere amat, qui celeritatem affeiluum 
raptim fequentes, ad omnem eorum auram vacillant. 
Ego, non nifi meditato, obrepfi ad favorem tuum ; per- 
fe£tionibus tuis, meis defideriis probe cognitis, excuflis 
perpenfifque. Cum enim vim cogitationum in vitam 
meam omnem convertiffem, et ex altera parte acuiffem 
me afpedlu virtutum tuarum : hue, illuc commeando, 
eo deveni animo, ut nunquam ceflandum mihi ducerem, 
numquam fatifcendum, donee lacteam aliquam viam ad 
candorem mentis tuae ducentem aut reperiflem aut 
feciflem. Neque quod ignotior eram, retundebatur 
unquam impetus : quippe, qui fie colligebam ; fi tarn 
abjecftus fim, ut laboribus meis plurimis atque aflidua 
obfervantia, ramenta quaepiam ex tanta Humanitatis 
mafia, quae apud te vifitur, abfeindere non pofiim, 
abfque molefta aliorum ac frigida commendatione, fi 
hue reciderit omnis ftudiorum fpes fructufque: 

Cur ego laborem notus efle tarn prave ? 
Cum ftare gratis cum filentio poflim. 

Quod tamen haec omnia fuccedant ex voto, quod reclufae 
fint fores, receptufque fim in aliquem apud H. T. 
locum, magis id adeo factum efle manfuetudine tua 
incomparabili, quam meis mentis ullis, femper luben- 
tiflimeque agnofcam : imo precabor enixe, me turn pri- 
vari tarn communi hac luce, quam tua, cum id agnof- 
cere unquam definam. Quanquam, cum gravibus 
duobus muneribus fungar apud meos, Rhetoris in hunc 
annum, et in plures Oratoris, permitte, pater, hoc im- 
petrem, ut cedam aliquantifper expectationi hominum, 
rariufque paulo fodiam in Vintonienfi agro, dum Rheto- 

B B 



370 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

rici fatagam : quamvis enim fexcenta hujufmodi prae- 
diola tua gratia permutare nolim ; majus tamen piacu- 
lum reor, deeffe publico muneri quam pri vato, latiufque 
manare injuftitiae peccatum, quam negligentiae. Illic 
conftringor debito ; hie etiam teneor, fed laxioribus 
vinculis, quaeque amor faepe remittit : illud necefTarium 
magis fa£hi, hoc vero longe jucundius, nobiliufque : ut 
quod Phiiofophus de tactu et villi, id appofite admodum 
hue tranfferatur. Appetit tempus, cum excuffo altero 
jugo, dimidiaque operis parte levatus, ad mea in H. T. 
officia erecliior folutiorque redibo, ex ipfa intermiffione 
animos ducens. Interim, fie exiftimes, nihil mortalium 
flrmiori flagrare in te defiderio, quam meum pectus ; 
neque ulla negotia, (quippe quae caput petant, non cor) 
tui in me dominii jus imminuere pofTe, nedum refcin- 
dere. Una cum promotionibus Academicis mater- 
nifque, affumpfi mecum propenfionem in Patrem. 
" Crefcent illae, crefcetis amores." Cui fententiae fi 
fidem adhibeas, affenfumque tuum veritati omni fami- 
liarem largiaris, [aw rrj tvXoyia gov irpoaeTrifjLeTpovjJLivy) 
beabis. 

Filium tuum obfequentiflimum 

Georgium Herbert. 

Ignofce (Heros illuftriffime) quod pronomina mea 
adeo audacter incedant in hac epiftola : potui refercire 
lineas Honoribus, Magnif. Celfitud. fed non patitur, ut 
mihi videtur, Romana elegantia, periodique vetus rotun- 
ditas. Quare malui fervire auribus tuis, creberrima 
Antiquitatis lecliione terfis atque expolitis, quam luxuriae 
feculi, ambitionifque ftrumas, non adeo fanatae ab optimo 
rege noftro quin turgefcat indies, atque efferat fe, 
indulgere. 

To the right honourable and reverend Father 
in God, my L. Bifhop of Winchefter, one of 
the King's moil honorable privy Counfaile, 



Oratio qua Aufpicatiffimum Se- 
reniflimi Principis Caroli 

Reditum ex Hifpaniis celebravit Georgius Herbert 
Academias Cantabrigienfis Orator.* 

Veneranda Capita, Viri Gravissimi, 
pubes lectissima. 

POLYCRATES cum annulum fibi dileftum in 
mare dimiiiffet, eundemque retuliffet captus pifcis, 
rbeliciflimus mortalium habitus eft. Ouanto foeliciores 
nos omnes, Corona Mufica, qui optimum Principem 
fpe nuptiarum mari nuper tradentes, et ipfum accepi- 
mus falvum et annulum, annulum Conjugalem, nunc 
denuo noftrum, atque ubivis terrarum pro judicio pru- 
dentiilimi Regis, et in rebus humanis divinifque exer- 
citatiflimi, de integro difponendum. Rediit, rediit 
Carolus, et cum eo vita noftra atque calor, longo 
animi deliquio fugitivus ac defertor. Quid jactas 
mihi aromata Orientis ? Quid Theriacas peregrinas ? 
aflerunt Medici unamquamque regionem fuam fibi 
fufficere, neque externis indigere auxiliis atque antidotis : 
certe noftrate Principe nufquam praefentius Balfamum, 
nufquam benignius, folvens obftupefa&os artus, atque 
exhilerans, tumentibus jam venis, arteriis micantibus 
fpiritibufque tabellariis laetum hunc nuncium ubique 
deferentibus,utnullus fitangulus corporis, nulla venula, 

* Ex officina Cantrelli Legge, Almae Matris Cantabrigiae ty- 
pographi, 1622, im. 4.to. 

B B 2 



372 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

ubi non adfit Carolus. Quam facile fentiuntur boni 
Principes ! Ut natura omnis fuos habet anteambulones, 
unde pluvia futura, an fudum, facile conjicitur ex ccelo, 
ex garritu avium, ex lapidum exhalatione : Sic bonorum 
Principum facilis Aftrologia : quorum adventum ipfi 
lapides, ipfa duriffima ingenia, meum praefertim, celare 
non poflunt : quanto minus tacebunt lufciniae noftrae 
difertae, minimeque omnium coeleftiores animi, quorum 
pietatis intereft non Glere. 

Quae enim ufphm gens, quod unquam feculum 
meliorem habuit Principem ? percurrite Annales reg- 
norum, excutite fcrinia politiarum omnium ; vos, vos, 
inquam, excutite, quorum aetas teritur in libris : non 
rufticis loquor aut barbaris, quos magnificentia promiffi 
circumfcribere in promptu erat, rudefque animos vi 
verborum percellere : veftra eft optio, veftra difqui- 
fitio, qui lineae eftis et helluones chartacei \ date mihi 
Carolum alterum, quamlibet Magnum, modo detis 
eum in flore, in vagina, in herbefcenti viriditate ; non- 
dum ad fpicam, barbamque adultum. Non rhetoricor, 
Academici, non tinnio : vKojiaviav illam et inanem 
verborum ftrepitum jamdudum depofui : bullae et ere- 
pitacula puerorum funt, aut eorum certe, qui cymbala 
iunt fanaticae juventutis : ego vero fentio, et quis fum 
ipfe (barbam, hui, tarn gravem) et apud quos dico, 
viros limatae auris atque terfae, quorum gravitate ac 
purpura non abutar. 

Quare ut parcius agam vobifcum, fimulque et labo- 
ribus meis, et veftrae fidei confulam, quemadmodum 
artifices non omnes licitantibus producunt merces, fed 
fpecimen tantum ; fie et ipfe excerpam e Principis re- 
bus geftis pugillum ; unam actionem e multis feligam, 
quam vobis ampleclendam diffuaviandamque praebebo : 
efto autem hoc ipfum iter, quod nuper emenfus eft, ut 
fciatis omnes quam nude, quam fimpliciter vobifcum 
agam, quam non longe abeam Oratorum more, qui 



ORATIO. 37? 

nullum non angulum verrunt (ac fi perdiderint inge- 
nium) ut Spartam exornent fuam : Ego vero non dicam 
vobis quod factum eft ante feculum veftrum, aut apud 
Indos > unicum hoc iter nuperum explicabo, in quo 
longe uberrimam gloriae fegetem, perfpicio, nulla ver- 
borum, nulla temporis falce demetendam. 

Non unum quid fpectant, aut fingulare Magni animi, 
fed varia folent effe eorum confilia, finefque multiplices 
et polymiti, ut fi minus id afiequantur, quod primum 
intendunt, faltem in fecundis aut tertiis confiftant. 
Quare et principis iter multiplicem nobis exhibet pru- 
dentiam : primo nuptias ipfas fpectate. Quid autem ? 
Ergon' amavit Princeps ? Ouippini ; homo eft, non 
ftatua ; Sceptriger, non fceptrum : aequumne eft ut tot 
labores et follicitudines Principum fine condimento fint 
atque embammate ? Quid fi cochleas colligeret cum 
Caligula, praefertim cum poflit in eodem littore ? Ouid 
fi mufcas captaret cum Domitiano ? at ille ambivit no- 
biliflimam Auftriacam familiam, Aquilamque illam, quae 
non capit mufcas. Nihil habet humana vita majoris 
momenti aut ponderis, quam Nuptiae, quas adeo laudant 
Poetae, ut in coelum tranftulerint : Et tv riv 6 avOpw-n-oc, 
inquit Medicorum Alpha, ovk av rjXyeev. Hinc Thraces 
difti funt afiioi, et Licurgus magnus Legiflator, drijuLiav 
TrpoatOtitce ToiQ dyafxotg : Abfque nuptiis foret populus 
virorum eiTemus unius feculi ; hac re folum ulcifcimur 
mortem, ligantes abruptum vitae filum, unde confequi- 
mur, vel invitis Fatis quafi nodofam aeternitatem. 

Non ignoro apud quos haec dico, eos fcilicet, qui in- 
nuptam Palladem colunt, Mufafque ccelibes, qui pofte- 
ros libris non liberis quaeritis. Nolite tamen nimium 
efferre vos, cum Virginitas ipfa fructus fit Nuptiarum : 
quod pereleganter et fupra barbariem feculi innuebant 
Majores noftri, quiolim glafto fe inficientes, in uxorum 
corporibus, Solem, Lunam, et Stellas ; in virginum, 
flores atque herbas depinxere : ut enim Uxores, Vir- 



374 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

gines ; ita Sol et Coelum producunt flores, qui fymboia 
funt fpei, quoniam a floribus fruflus fperantur. 

Quod fi Nuptiae in fe graves funt, quanto magis 
Principum, cum, quo eorum conditio fublimior, eo 
major cura adhibenda fit. Deus ipfe cum crearet ho- 
minem, mundi regem, confilio ufus eft. Quare ope- 
rofior in eo ftru&ura, et praerogativae regiae emicant. 
Soli homini dantur manus, foli caput rotundum et 
ccelefte, foli facies tanquam veftibulum magni palatii. 
Jam vero, ut Rex animalium fiat Rex hominum, appo- 
nimus nos manibus Sceptrum, capiti et faciei coronam, 
fignificantes oportere Reges iis partibus antecellere 
homines, quibus homo bruta, juftitia fcilicet et pruden- 
tia. Goropius Becanus ait vetus vocabulum noftrum, 
I&Otttniy, et contra£t.e l&lttjy, a Con verbo deduci, 
quod tria comple£t.itur, Poflum, Scio, Audeo : cernitis 
Regem, et nomine et re magnum quid polliceri, ideo- 
que ex quolibet ligno, qualibet uxore non efle fingen- 
dum : neque enim minus refert, qualis quaeque fit 
mater, e qua liberi quaerantur quam qualis terra, e qua 
arbores. Apud Juris-confultos, partus fequitur ven- 
trem : quibus accedunt Poetae, 

"Orav Kpr)7riQ, july) Kara(5\r}6y tov yivovg 
'Opflwc, avayjcrj Sv(ttv\uv rovg licjovovg. 

Nam ut educationem liberorum mittam, qua in re Cele- 
bris eft Gracchorum mater, ingenium ipfum atque 
indoles (veluti Conclufio fequitur infirmiorem partem) 
plerumque matriflat : hinc contigifle arbitror apud Ro- 
manos, quod nonnullae familiae femper mites effent, uti 
Valerii, aliae contra femper pertinaces ac tribunitiae/uti 
Appii. Quare noluit Princeps optimus, in deleclu 
uxoris, re una omnium graviflima alienis oculis judicio- 
que inniti ; Ipfe, ipfe profe£tus eft, ut ingenti labore 
fuo et periculo confuleret, et praefenti Reipublicae et 
futurae ; neque unius feculi Princeps, fed et omnium, 



ORATIO. 375 

quae ventura funt, haberetur. Neque in hifce Nuptiis 
poiteritati tantum profpexit fuaviffimus Princeps, verum 
etiam praefenti feculo, dum pacem, qua tot jam annis 
impune fruimur, hoc pacto fundatam cupit ct perpe- 
tuam ; quod quidem ubi gentium fi non ab Hifpano 
fperandum ? v Orav vojuievQ dyaObv kvvcl i^y, kol ol 
ciXXol vo/uLug f3ov\ovrat ttX^cjlov avrov rag dy£\ag 
laravai. Scio Belli nomen fplendidum efle et dorio^ 
fum, dum animus grandis, fuique impos, triumphos et 
victorias, quafi fraena ferox fpumantia mandit, juvat 
micare gladio et mucronem intueri. 

Jam nunc minaci murmure cornuum 
Stringuntur aures : jam litui ftrepunt, 
Jam fulgor armorum fugaces 

Terret equos equitumque vultus. 

Cum tamen fplendida plerumque vitrea fint, claritatem 
fragilitate corrumpentia ; neque de privato agamus 
bono, fed publico ; certe fatendum eft, anteferendam 
bello pacem, fine qua omnis vita procella, et mundus 
folitudo. Pace, filii fepeliunt patres ; bello, patres, 
filios : pace, aegri fanantur ; bello, etiam fani intereunt : 
pace, fecuritas in agris eft : bello, neque intra muros : 
pace, avium cantus expergefacit ; bello, tubas ac tym- 
pana : pax novum orbem aperuit ; bellum deftruit 
veterem. 

'Ep/jvrj yewpybv kclv itirpaig rpi(pet KaXo)g 9 

IIoXeUOC ^£ KCLV 7TsSl(*) KCLKOQ t(j>V . 

Quod ad noftram Rempublicam, Academiam, pax 
adeo Mufis fumme neceftaria eft, ut fine ea nihil fimus. 
Nam primum tota haec Pieria fupellex, charta, calami, 
codices, quam fubitu difpereunt, fimul ac concrepuit 
incendium militare : quid proderunt fcalpella veftra, 
quando ipfae hae turres et beatae fabricae, unico iclu 



376 Herbert's prose works. 

fulphurei tubi, unica litura delentur ? Dein quid Muiis 
cum tumultu ? Otium pofcunt artes, mentem tran- 
quillam, ferenam, fudam : lucos aeftate, pinguem togam 
hyeme : delicata res eft eruditio et tenera, tanquam 
flos molliculus rudiore Centurionis manu tactus flac- 
cefcit. Tu, qui Philofophiae incumbis, cum corporis 
cum animu vinculum impedimento eiTe ad contemplan- 
dum caufaris, irruit Miles in Mufaeum tuum, et gladio 
te liberat. Tu, qui aftra fcrutaris, dum globos tractas 
et ccelos fictitios, perrumpit primipilus, et te cum ccelis 
tuis ad inferos deturbat. Senflt hoc Archimedes, 
figuras jam nunc pulveri infcriptas, corpore confofTo 
obliterans. Quare cavendum, ne pacem, quae fola in- 
cubat artibus, et obftetricatur, minus quam par eft, 
aeftimemus. Quod aliae gentes manibus in ccelum 
fublatis, lachrymis in terram manantibus, jejunae, fqua- 
lidae, perdies, pernocT:es flagitant, cavendum ne id nobis 
naufeam moveat, aut tanquam oves taedulae et faftidi- 
ofae, cibum refpuamus. Ecquid nefcitis miferias Belli ? 
confulite hiftorias ; illic tuta cognitio eft, atque extra 
teli ja£him. Ecce lanienas omnimodas, truncata cor- 
pora, mutilatam imaginem Dei, pauxillum vitas, quan- 
tum fat is ad dolendum, urbium incendia, fragores, 
direptiones, ftupratas virgines, praegnantes bis inter- 
fectas, infantulos plus lactis quam cruoris emittentes ; 
effigies, imo umbras hominum fame, frigore, illuvie, 
enecftas, contufas, debilitatas. Quam cruenta gloria 
eft, quae fuper cervicibus hominum erigitur ? ubi in 
dubio eft, qui facit, an qui patitur, miferior. 

Non ne^o bellum aliquando neceiTarium efTe, bel- 
lique miferias gratas, praecipue ubi velut ex conti- 
nentibus te&is ad nos trajeiturum eft incendium : 

^W^pOVWV £(7Tl fJLTj TTEOlflivUV^ OT£ 7To\efJLelv VjUlV 

6/mo\oyr)(jEi) dixit Mithridates. Sed non eft noftri bel- 
lum indicere ; prudentiffimus Rex mature profpiciet, 
ubi ille fignum fuftulerit, Leones Britannici (e quorum 



oratio. 377 

oflibus collifis ignis elicitur) qui nunc manfueti funt, 
abunde rugient. Interim curiofitas abfit, neque eorum 
fatagamus, quae ad nos non fpectant ; fed velut Ro- 
mani lacum, cujus altitudo ignota erat, dedicabant 
victoriae ; pariter et nos confilia regia, tanquam gurgi- 
tern imperveftigabilem, vi&oriae nuncupemus ; praefer- 
tim cum futura incerta fint, et nullis perfpicillis, ne 
Belgicis quidem affequenda : apud poetas deorum pha- 
retrae operculum habuere, humanae non item : patent 
enim confilia noftra, abfconduntur Divina et Regia, 
praecipue pharetrata, quae ad poenam gentium et Bel- 
lum fpectant. Sunt tamen acuti quidam et emuniri, 
qui omnia praevident : nihil eos latet ac fi Fatis a fufo 
effent, atque confiliis, fine quibus ne unum quidem 
filum torquerent: nobis non licet effe tarn perfpicaci- 
bus, quamvis rationi confonum videtur, ut qui hie in 
Mufarum monte editiflimo, et ipfo Parnaffo fiti fumus, 
liberiorem, quam alii, profpectum habeamus. Illud 
autem, quod cuivis clariflime patet, etiam lufco ; nun- 
quam intueri fatis vel mirari poffumus nimirum infini- 
tum Principis in fuam gentem amorem, cui pacem 
quaefivit fuo capite, periculis fuis. 

Recte facitis, Academici, attollentes oculos cum 
ftupore ; Laudo vos, neque enim quicquam hoc iti- 
nere mirabilius, cujus tamen fructum omnen nondum 
habetis enucleatum. Quid enim fi praeter Nuptias, 
prolem, tranquillitatem, etiam et fcientiae augmen- 
tum ex hoc itinere captavit folertiflimus Princeps ? 
nihil ad cognitionem acquirendam peregrinatione 
conducibilius effe noviftis omnes, unde cuncti antiqui 
Philofophi peregrinati funt, exiftimantes Tv^Xovq slvai 
7rpbg 6£u /3X£7Tovrac 5 ava7ro^r)iuLr}TovQ irpog s/cSaS^jurjKO- 
rac- Quamvis res haec Principibus ut utiliffima ita 
difficillima facta, cum quanto plus poflint in fua terra, 
tanto minus in aliena. Omne regnum fuo Principi 
career eft, aut fi excedat, alienum : at Nofter diffi- 



378 Herbert's prose works. 

cultatem fuperans, fructum confecutus eft : quid enim 
utilius quam ex obfervatione exterarum Legum ac 
morum, patriam ditare ? Catonianum praeceptum eft : 
Vicini quo pacto niteant, id animum advertito ; adde 
quod angufti eft animi aut fuperbi fua tantum nofle, 
praefertim cum in uno regno non fint omnia : divifit Na- 
tura fuas dotes, ut indigentia fingularum regionum, om- 
nes connectit ; etenim abundantia morofa eft et fternax, 
unde divites fylvas, ac faltus quaerunt ubi asdificent, ac 
fi non gregaria effent animalia, fed tigres aut urfi. 
Quamobrem optime confuluit gentibus natura, cum 
paupertatem daret tanquam catenam, qua diflitas na- 
tiones ac fuperbas conftringeret. Porro fi Politicos 
audiamus, Salus regnorum pendet a vicinis, quorum 
confilia, apparatus, foedera, munitiones, aeque ac noftra 
fpecTiari debent : incumbant fibi invicem imperia, tan- 
quam ligna obliqua, aliter magna hasc mundi domus 
corrueret : hinc Reges Legatos habent ftatarios ac 
refides, quern locum Nofter fuaviffimus implevit, ipfe 
egit oratorem, ut et ego aliquantulum hoc nomine 
glorier. 

Neque alienas tantum ex hoc itinere cognovit Ref- 
publicas fed quod plus eft, fuam ; abfentia magis quam 
praefentia. Nunc enim exploratos habet noftros in fe 
affectus, timores, fufpiria, expoftulationes, iras, amorem 
rurfus. Deus bone ? qui turn rumores ? quae audi- 
tiones ? qui fufurri ? Heus, abiitne Nofter ? miferos 
nos ; nunquam frigidiorem aeftatem fenfimus ; at quo 
tandem ? Madritum ? hui ! iter bene longum : Quid 
autem illic ? fterilem aiunt regionem : Fallens, nuf- 
quam plura bona, cum etiam mala illic fint aurea : 
nihil inaudifti de Tago, Pa&olo ? apud nos agri tan- 
tum funt fertiles, illic etiam arenae. Dii te perdant, 
cum malis tuis et arena fine calce : at ego Principem 
vellem, Carolum, Carolum ; ficcine abiifti folus ? cur 
non nos omnes tecum ? cur non ut elephanti turres, ita 



oratio. 379 

tu patriam tecum portafti ? Sic tunc omnes ftrepe- 
bant ; hujufmodi lamentis et quiritationibus plena erant 
fora, nundinae, conciliabula, angiportus, Mseandri. Dh 
cam vobis, Academici ; ego tunc temporis liberior 
eram, hue illuc pro libitu circumcurfitans : infpexi 
facies hominum ac vultus curiofius tanquam emptor, 
ita me ametis omnes, ut ego nihil ufpiam lcetum, nihil 
candidum expifcari porTem ; oculi omnium dejecti, hu- 
mile os, collum penfile, manus decuflatae, ipfae mulieres 
inelegantes, nulla pulchritudo per univerfam Britan- 
niam, difparuit forma, Albion nomine excidit : ipfum 
caelum nubilum Temper, et poeta ftultus qui dixerat, 

Minima contentos nocte Britannos. 

Inde ego fie mecum : gaudeo quidem de ingenti 
amore in Principem, cui nulla dilectio par effe poteft \ 
at cur adeo dolent ? cur ringuntur ? num diffidunt pru- 
dentiae Regis ? annon ejus confilio res gefta eft ? Scio 
Hifpanum verfutum, callidum, artis et aucupii apprime 
gnarum : et Jacobus a nobis eft : hie ego me erexi et 
de dolore remifi plurimum, de defiderio nihil. Atque 
hoc quidem ftatu res erant, Suaviflime Carole, cum tu 
aberas; ex quo facile colleclum erat, quantum deperimus 
te ; quam Itulte de te rixamur : ut aliquando exiftimem 
id egifle prudentiflimum Patrem tuum, cum dimitteret 
te in Hifpaniam, quod Romani Imperatores in bello, 
qui folebant figna in hoftes injicere, ut milites acrius ea 
repeterent : certe nos te abfentem omnes acerrime con- 
citatiffimeque defideravimus. 

Ecquid videtis tandem quam utile hoc iter, per quod 
optimus Princeps non tantum exteras regiones habuit 
perfpeclias, veram etiam fuam ; Quid ft hie lateat etiam 
Temperantia, rara in Principibus virtus, et cui cum 
fceptro lites faepius intercedunt ? Quid enim ? adeon' 
nihili videtur res, Principem omnibus deliciis abundan- 
tem, obfeptum, illecebris, voluptatibus quafi fafciis cir- 



380 Herbert's prose works. 

cundatum, enatare deliciis, tranfilire fepes, rumpere 
fafcias cum Hercule, ferpentefque interficere voluptatis, 
ut iter tantum, tantis laboribus, periculis obnoxium 
fuiciperet ? Quam pudet me delicatorum Caesarum, 
qui cupiditatibus immerfi, aut uno Temper faginantur in 
loco, uti anguillae, aut fi mutant locum, geftantur, 
tanquam onera, circumferuntur molliffimis lecticis, 
indicantes, fe non amare patriam terram a qua adeo 
removentur. Sic pafcunt fe indies, ac fi corpora fua 
non abirent olim in elementa, fed in bellaria aut trage- 
mata : cum tamen in refolutione ilia ultima, nulla fit 
diftinitio populi aut principis : nulla funt fceptra in 
dementis, nulli fafces aut fecures : Vapores ferviles ad 
nubes educli, aeque magnum tonitru edent ac regii. 
Quid ego vobis Neronum aut Heliogabalorum ingluvi- 
em memorem ? quid ru£tus crapulaa folium poffidentis ? 
Dies me deficeret (et quidem nox aptior efTet tali 
hiftoriae) fi Romanorum Imperatorum incredibilem 
luxum a Tiberio Caefare ad Conftantinum magnum 
aperirem, quorum imperium gulae impar erat, ut inter- 
dum putem, optime confuluifle Deum orbi terrarum 
lapides et metalla ei inferendo, aliter mundus jamdiu 
fuiffet devoratus. Nota funt rapiyiviiaTa iEgyptiorum, 
qui antequam condiebant corpora Nobilium, folebant 
ventres eximere, quos in area repofitos abjiciebant in 
fluvium, his verbis. 'O Si<nroTa tjXie koi Oiot 7ravTeg, 
a t\ Kara rbv efiavrov fi'iov rnuaprov, rj (paytbv rj 
7Ti<l)v 9 Sjv jutrj Oe/diTov rjv, ov $1 IjuLavTov rijuLaprovj 
aXXa Sia ravra. At nofter fpretis voluptatibus, 
illecebris futeXiraiaig ayxovaiQ abjedtis, iter aggreditur 
et labores, haud ignarus, ignem vitas augeri ven- 
tilatione, defidia corrumpi, neminemque efle fui 
negligentiorem, quam qui fibi parcat. Quin exuit 
perfonam Principis, deponit Majeftatem, virgam cum 
fceptro commutans, ut quid privata habeat in fe 
vita commodi aut voluptatis, experiretur. Nihil 



ORATIO. 381 

utilius Regi quum aliquando non regnare : hoc enim 
faftum amputat, aftccius explorat, adulationem ven- 
tilat, et adulatores, qui femper titillant aures Princi- 
pum, ' Llatrtp rolq rrTtpoig kv(a)jj.evol tu u>Ta. Alfredus 
nobiliflimus Saxonum noftrorum Princeps, fub ementito 
habitu fidicinis caftra hoftium ingreffus, ipfumque Prae- 
torium, fidibus canendo, omnia Danorum expifcatus 
confilia, vi&oriam celebrem confecutus eft. Notiffi- 
mus eft Codri amor, cujus manifeftationem in gentem 
fuam, privatae perfonae et habitui debuit. Porro, eft 
etiam interdum fatietas quaedam honoris, quern ad 
tempus deponere famem excitat : non minus vitae inae- 
qualitas dele£tat, quam terras, quam Natura montibus 
vallibufque fublimitate atque humilitate diftinxit : quin 
et venti imperant pelago, ut laevitatem illam aequabilem 
atque politiem perturbent. In piituris locus eft umbris 
et receflibus, etiam ft quis Principem pingat. Amat 
varietatem Natura omnis, flores, animalia, turn maxime 
homo, cui foli ideo, infunt oculi variegati, cum caetera 
animantia unicolores habeant. Quamobrem non eft 
mirandum, ft Reges ipfi quandoque fuavitates fuas 
populari aceto condiant. 

Accepiftis, Viri attentiflimi, caufas itineris hujus, 
quantum quidem ego homuncio ac nanus conjeftando 
affequor. Quare nunc vobis ex pede Herculem, ex 
itinere Principem metiri licet, quod fane adeo nobile 
fuit et honorificum, ut nihil habeat Invidia ipfa, quod 
contra hifcat aut muflitet. Adeft tamen anus ilia querula, 
et (/uAey/cAi^uwi;, quam audire videor dicentem Pulchrum 
quidem iter et Amante dignum ; ficcine peffima ? at 
fuerit ; ft amor virginis eo pertraxit Principem, quo 
tandem ducet amor Patriae ? eadem acies et ftipulam 
fecat et lignum ; idem fervor qui impar fub amoris 
figno meritus eft, ad vera caftra traductus, hoftem, 
interficiet : idem impetus, qui peragravit Hifpaniam, ft 
opus fit, fuperabit ; prasfertim cum amico fidere peri- 



382 Herbert's prose works. 

culofius fit quam hoftem fuperare. Protagoras cum 
elegantur admodum caudices ligni fafciculo vinxiffet, 
cum grandi atque impedito onere facillime incedens, 
occurrit ei Democritus, et ingenium admirans, domum 
fecum duxit, et erudivit artibus : qui inde a bajulo 
evafit Philofophus, eodem ingenio ufus in lignis et 
Uteris : quis fcit an et amoris onus fcite vinctum liga- 
tumque et per tot milliaria facile tranfmiflum, mentem 
majorum capacem indicet ? Florunt apud nos artes 
omnes, inter quas et Mathematicae, quae licet verfentur 
in figuris defcribendis, quibus nihil imperito vanius inu- 
tiliufve videatur, ubi tamen ad ufum tralatae fuerint, ma- 
chinas conficiunt ad defenfionem Reipublicae mirabiles : 
Sic idem animus, qui nuper verfatus eft in forma et 
figuris vultus, ubi res poftulat, regnum tuebitur : imo 
in univerfum, fi quis de Principe aliquo, quis fit futurus 
aut qualis, recte divinaret, non refpiciat materiam ac- 
tionum, fed quo fpiritu, qua arte, quanto impetu atque 
vigore res aggrediatur : quemadmodum in Cometae 
praefagio, non refpicitur, quae materia fit, cceleftis an 
fublunaris, fed quae figna, quo motu tranfeat. 

Verum mittamus invidos et invidiam, quae femper fe 
devorat primum, uti vermis nucleum, e quo nafcitur ; 
non eft tanti refpondere latratibus malevolorum ; licet 
celebres fint canes Britannici, et plus jufto celebres, 
cum leunculum et dominum fuum contra naturam 
adoriantur : in Geoponicis dicitur, KaToirrpov lav liri- 
Sei^rfg Top liriKUfiivoj vicpei, TraptXeixTzrat fi ^aAa£a : 
quanto citius fugient calumniae, fi fpeculum Invidiae 
oftendas, quo deformitatem fuam intueatur. Nos vero, 
flores Parnafli, gaudia praeftolantur, quae jamdudum 
annuunt mihi ut perorem. Hilaris haec fumenda eft 
dies. Quare prodite tenebriones literarii e gurguftiis 
veftris, ubi trecenta foliorum jugera uno die fedentes 
percurritis ; prodite omnes. Quid novi ? Quid novi 
ftupide ? Rediit Princeps, Carolus rediit, honore gra- 



ORATIO. 383 

vidus, gravidus fcientia, cruribus thyrno plenis : ut 
enim vapor, qui furtim afcendit ad nubes, ubi jam in- 
gravefcit humore, rclabitur in terram, qua ortus eft, 
eique cum fecundia remuneratur ; fie et Nofter qui 
clanculum exiit, ufque ad Pyrenaeas nubes confcendens, 
reverfus per mare, gloria, prudentia auctior, ditat pa- 
triam, fuamque abfentiam cum faenore compenfat. 
Quamobrem abjicite quifque libros, non eft locus gra- 
vitati, neque apud vos : tripudiet Alma Mater licet 
aetate provectior, etiam anus fubfultans multum excitet 
pulveris : Arionem Delphino reveclum excepere ar- 
bores tripudiantes, et Vos ftatis ? 

Tantum precemur Deum immortalem, ut Princeps 
optimus nulla fecunda itinera meditetur ; pofthac con- 
tineat fe patria, cujus arctis amplexibus nunquam fe 
expediet. Gulielmus Victor defcenfurus primum e 
navibus in terram hanc, incidit in ccenum, quod in- 
nuebat eum hie manfurum : utinam et nunc fit tanta 
patriae tenacitas, ut nunquam Princeps fe extricet : 
fatis virtuti datum eft, fatis Reipublicae. Quod fi 
necefle fit iterum exire patria, qui nunc invenit viam, 
proximo itinere faciat. Apollo olim depofitis radiis, 
Daphnen deperiit, at ilia mutata eft in arborem tri- 
umphantium propriam : Nofter etiam Princeps habuit 
Daphnen fuam, cujus amor deinceps in triumphos et 
laurus mutabitur. 

Nos vero, Auditores, diu jam peregrinati cum Prin- 
cipe, commode pervenimus ad laurum hanc, ubi fub 
umbra ejus paulifper requiefcamus ; praefertim donee 
tranfeat nubes ilia, quae vicinos adeo infeftat : hie enim 
fecuri fumus a pluvia, imo a fulmine : Obfecremus 
eum tantum ut permittat noftram hanc 

Inter vidirices hederam fibi ferpere Lauros 

Dixi. 



384 Herbert's prose works. 

ORATIO DOMINI GEORGII HERBERT, 

Oratoris Academiae Cantabrigienfis, habita coram 

Dominis Legatis* cum Magiftro. in Artib. 

Titulis Infignirentur. 

27 Feb. 1622. 

excellentissimi magnificentissimi 
Domini, 

POST honores eximios, praefe&uras infignes, Lega- 
tiones Nobiliflimas, aliofque titulos asque nobis 
memorantibus, ac merentibus vobis gratiffimos, Saluete 
tandem Magiftri Artium, et quidem omnium Aulica- 
rum, Militarium, Academicarum. Cujus novi tituli 
acceffionem fumme gratulantur Excellentiis Veftris 
Mufae omnes, Gratiaeque, obfecrantes, ut deponatis 
paulifper vultus illos bellicos, quibus holies foletis in 
poteftatem redigere, leniorefque afpectus, et dulciores 
affumatis : nos etiam exuentes os illud, et fupercilium 
quibus caperatam feverioremque, Philofophiam expug- 
nare novimus, quicquid hilare eft, laetum, ac lubens, 
veftram in gratiam amplectimur. Quid enim jucundius 
accidere poteft, quum ut miniftri Regis Catholica ad 
nos accedant ? cujus ingens gloria aeque rotunda eft 
atque ipfe orbis : qui utrafque Indias Hifpania fua quafi 
modo connectens, nullas metas laudum, nullas Hercu- 
leas columnas, quas jam olim poffidet, agnofcit. Jam- 
dudum nos omnes, noftrumque regnum geftimus fieri 
participes ejus fanguinis, qui tantos fpiritus folet infun- 

* Don Charles de Coloma, Spanifh ambaflador, and Ferdinand, 
Baron of Boyfcot, ambaflador of Ifabella, Archduchefs of 
Auftria. London, Printed by W. Stanfby, for Richard Meighen. 
1623. 



ORATIO. 385 

dere. Et quod obfervatione cum primis dignum eft, 
quo magis amore coalcfcamus, utraque gens Hifpanica, 
firitannica, colimus Jacobum. Jacobus tutelaris divus 
eft utrique noftrum ; ut fatis intelligatis, Excellentias 
veftras tanto chariores effe, cum eo fitis ordine atque 
habitu, quo nos in hoc regno omnes effe gloriamur. 
Guin et Sereniflimae Principis Ifabellae laudes, virtutef- 
que, vicinum fretum quotidie tranfnatantes, litora noftra 
atque aures mire circumfop^nt. Neceffe eft autem ut 
fcelicitas tantorum Principum etiam in miniftros redun- 
det, quorum in eligendis illis judicium jampridem 
apparet. Ouare excellentiflimi, Spiendidiftimi Domini, 
cum tanti fitis et in Principibus Veftris, et in vobifme- 
tipfis, veremur ne nihil hie fit, quod magnitudini prae- 
fentiae veftras refpondeat. Quis enim apud nos fplendor, 
aut rerum, aut veftium ? quae rutilatio ? certe cum 
duplex fulgor fit, qui mundi oculos perftringat, nos tarn 
defecimus in utroque quam Excellentiae Veftrae abun- 
dant. Quin imo Arte* hie funt quietae, et filentio 
ocultae, tranquillitas, otium, pax omnibus praeterquam 
tineis, paupertas perpetua, nifi ubi veftrae adfunt Ex- 
cellentiae. Nolito tamen contemnere has gloriolas 
noftras quas ex chartis et pulvere eruimus. Quo- 
modo poffetis fimiles effe Alexandro Magno nifi ejus 
res geftas tradidiffet hiftoria ? feritur fama in hoc faeculo, 
ut in fequenti metatur : prius Excellentiis Veftris curae 
erit y pofterioris largam meffern Vobis haec tenuia bona 
confulentibus > vovemus. 



c c 



386 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 



THE ORATION OF MASTER GEORGE 
HERBERT. 

Orator of the Univerfity of Cambridge, when the 

Ambafladors were made Mailers of 

Arts. 27 Feb. 1622. 

Most Excellent and most magnificent Lords, 

AFTER many lingular honours, remarkable com- 
mands, more, noble AmbdTages, and other titles 
moft pleafing, as well to us remembering, as to you 
deferving them ; we at laft falute you Mafters of Arts ; 
yea, indeed of all, both Courtly, Military, Academical. 
The acceffion of which new title to your Excellencies, 
all the Mufes and Graces congratulate ; entreating that 
you would awhile lay afide thofe warlike looks, with 
which you ufed to conquer your enemies, and affume 
more mild and gracious afpe£r,s; and we alfo putting oft 
that countenance and gravity, by which we well know 
how to convince the ftern, and more auftere fort of 
Philofophy, for refpeit to you, embrace all that is cheer- 
ful, joyous, pleafing. For> what could have happened 
more pleafing to us, than the accefs of the Officers of 
the Catholic King ? whofe exceeding glory is equally 
round with the world itfelf : who tying, as with a knot, 
both Indies to his Spain, knows no limits of his praife, 
no, not, as in paft ages, thofe Pillars of Hercules. Long 
fince, all we and our whole Kingdom exult with joy, to 
be united with that blood which ufeth to infufe fo great 
and worthy Spirits. And that which firft deferveth our 
obfervation, to the end, we might the more by love 



ORATION 387 

grow on, both the Spanifh and Britifh Nation ferve and 
worlhip James. James is the protecting Saint unto us 
both, that you may well conceive your Excellencies to 
be more dear unto us, in that you are of the fame order 
and habit, of which we all in this Kingdom glory to be. 
The praifes alfo and virtues of the moft renowned 
Princefs Ifabel, pafTing daily our neighbouring Sea, won- 
droufly found through all our Coafts and ears. And 
necefTarily muft the felicity of fo great Princes redound 
alfo to thofe fervants, in the choice of whom their 
judgment doth even now appear. Wherefore moft 
Excellent, moft illuftrious Lords, fince you are fo great 
both in your princes, and yourfelves, we juftly fear 
that there is nothing here anfwerable to the greatnefs of 
your prcfence. For amongft us, what glorious fhew is 
there, either of garments or of any thing elfe ? what 
fplendour ? furely, fince there is a twofold brightnefs 
which dazzleth the eyes of men, we have as much failed 
as your Excellencies do excel in both. But yet the Arts 
in quietnefs and filence here are reverenced : here is 
tranquillity, repofe, peace with all but Book worms, per- 
petual poverty, but when your Excellencies appear. Yet 
do not ye contemn thefe our flight glories, which we 
raife from Books, and painful induftry; how could you 
be like great Alexander, unlefs Hiftory delivered his 
actions ? Fame is fown in this age, that it may be 
reaped in the following ; let the firft be the care of your 
Excellencies ; we for your gracious acceptance of thefe 
poor duties wifh, and vow unto you of the laft a plen- 
teous Harvefl. 



c c 2 



Preface and Notes to the Divine 
Confiderations of John ValdefTo. 

PRINTED AT CAMBRIDGE, 1646. 

[Mr. Nicholas Ferrar, the amiable reclufe of Gidden 
Hall, while travelling in Spain became acquainted with 
this treatife of ValdefTo, a Spanifh gentleman at the court 
of Charles V. and having tranflated the work, he fent 
it to Herbert for his opinion and reviiion. The follow- 
ing Notes, the fruit of the requeft, were communicated 
to Mr. Ferrar, with this letter], 

MY dear and deferving Brother, your ValdefTo I 
now return with many thanks and fome notes, 
in which, perhaps, you will difcover fome care, which 
I forbear not in the midft of my griefs : Firft, for your 
fake, becaufe I would do nothing negligently that you 
commit unto me : Secondly, for the Author's fake, 
whom I have conceived to have been a true fervant of 
God, and to fuch, and all that is theirs, I owe diligence : 
Thirdly, for the Church's fake, to whom by printing 
it, I would have you confecrate it. You owe the 
church a debt, and God hath put this into your hands 
(as he fent the fifh with money to Saint Peter) to dis- 
charge it ; happily alfo with this (as his thoughts are 
fruitful), intending the honour of his fervant the author, 
who being obfcured in his own country, he would 
have to flourifh in this land of light and region of 
the Gofpel, among his chofen. It is true there are 



NOTES TO THE DIVINE CONSIDERATIONS. 389 

fome things which I like not in him, as my fragments 
will exprefs, when you read them ; nevcrthelefs I wifh 
you by all means to publifh it, for thefe three eminent 
things obfervable therein : Firft, that God in the midft 
of popery mould open the eyes of one to underftand 
and exprefs fo clearly and excellently the intent of the 
Gofpel, in the acceptation of Chrift's righteoufnefs (as 
he fhoweth through all his Confiderations), a thing 
ftrangely buried and darkened by the Adverfaries and 
their great ftumbling-block. Secondly, the great honour 
and reverence, which he everywhere bears towards our 
dear Mafter and Lord, concluding every Confideration 
almoft with his holy Name, and letting his merit forth 
fo pioufly ; for which I do fo love him, that were there 
nothing elfe I would Print it, that with it the honour of 
my Lord might be publifhed. Thirdly, the many pious 
rules of ordering our life, about mortification, and ob~ 
fervation of God's kingdom within us, and the working 
thereof, of which he was a very diligent obferver. 
Thefe three things are very eminent in the Author, and 
overweigh the defects, as I conceive, towards the pub- 
lifhing thereof. 

From Bemerton, near Salifbur) ; 
Septemb. 29, 1632. 



H 



Notes to the Divine Confiderations. 
Page 33. 
E often ufeth this manner of fpeech, believing by 



Revelation^ whereby I underftand he meaneth 
only the effectual operation or illumination of the Holy 
Spirit, teftifying and applying the revealed truth of the 
Gofpel, and not any private Enthufiafms or revelations : 
as if he mould fay, A general apprehenfion, or affent 



390 her.bert's prose works. 

to the promifes of the Gofpel, by hearfay or relation 
from others, is not that which nlleth the heart with joy 
and peace in believing, but the Spirit's bearing witneis 
with our fpirit, revealing and applying the general pro- 
mifes to every one in particular, with fuch fmcerity and 
efficacy, that it makes him godly, righteous, and fober 
all his life long, This I call believing by Revelation, 
and not by relation. 



Page 107. 



I much miflike the comparifon of Images and hol}< 
Scriptures, as if they were both but alphabets, anL 
after a time to be left. The holy Scriptures have not 
only an elementary ufe, but a ufe of perfection ; neither 
can they ever be exhaufted (as pictures may by a 
plenary circumfpection), but ftill, even to the moit 
learned and perfect in them, there is fomewhat to be 
learned more : therefore David defireth God, in the 
1 19th Pfalm, to open his eyes, that he might fee the 
wondrous things of his law, and that he would make 
them his ftudy ; although, by other words of the fame 
Pfalm, it is evident that he was not meanly converfant 
in them. Indeed, he that fhall fo attend to the back 
of the letter as to neglect the confideration of God's 
work in his heart through the word, doth amifs > both 
are to be done : the Scriptures ftill ufed, and God's 
work within us ftill obferved, who works by his word, 
and ever in the reading of it. As for that text, They 
Jhall be all taught of God^ it being Scripture, cannot 
be fpoken to the difparagement of Scripture ; but the 
meaning is this, that God in the days of the Gofpel 
will not give an outward law of ceremonies as of old, 
but fuch a one as fhall ftill have the affiftance of the 
Holy Spirit applying it to our hearts, and ever outrun- 






NOTES TO THE DIVINE CONSIDERATIONS. 391 

ning the teacher, as it did when Peter taught Cornelius. 
There the cafe is plain : Cornelius had revelation, yet 
Peter was to be fent for : and thofe that have infpira- 
tions muft ftill ufe Peter, God's word : if we make 
another fenfe of the Text, we (hall overthrow all means 
Hive Catechizing, and fet up enthufiafms. 

In the Scriptures are 
Doctrines, thefe ever teach more and more. 
Promifes, thefe ever comfort more and more. 

Rom. xv. 4. 

Page 109. 

The doctrine of this Confideration cleareth that of 
the former; for as the fervant leaves not the letter 
when he hath read it, but keeps it by him, and reads it 
again and again, and the more the promife is delayed 
the more he reads it, and fortifies himfelf with it, fo are 
we to do with the Scriptures, and this is the ufe of the 
promifes of the Scriptures. But the ufe of the doctrinal 
part is more, in regard it prefents us not with the fame 
thing only when it is read, as the promifes do, but 
enlightens us with new confiderations the more we read 
it. Much more might be faid, but this fufficeth. He 
himfelf allows it for a holy converfation and refrefhment 
in the 32nd Confideration ; and amongft all divine and 
fpiritual exercifes and duties, he nameth the reading 
and meditation of holy Scripture for the firft and prin- 
cipal, as Confid. 47, and others ; fo that it is plain the 
author had a very reverend efteem of the holy Scrip- 
ture, efpecially confidering the time and place where 
he lived. 

Page 122. 

All the difcourfe from this place to the end of the 
chapter may feem ftrange, but it is fuitable to what the 



392 Herbert's prose works. 

Author holds elfewhere ; for he maintains that it is 
faith and infidelity that fhall judge us now fince the 
Gofpel, and that no other fin or virtue hath any thing 
to do with us ; if we believe, no fin fhall hurt us; if we 
believe not, no virtue fhall help us. Therefore he 
faith here, we mail not be punifhed for evil doing, nor 
rewarded for well doing or living, for all the point lies 
in believing or not believing. And with this expofition 
the Chapter is clear enough ; but the truth of the 
doctrine would be examined, however it may pafs for 
his opinion, in the Church of God there is one funda- 
mental, but elfe variety. The Author's good meaning 
in this will better appear by his 98th Confideration of 
faith and good works. 

Page 155. 

He meaneth (I fuppofe) that a man prefume not to 
merit, that is, to oblige God, or juftify himfelf before 
God, by any acts or exercifes of Religion ; but that he 
ought to pray God affectionately and fervently, to fend 
him the light of his Spirit, which may be unto him as 
the Sun to a traveller in his journey; he in the mean- 
while applying himfelf to the unqueftioned duties of 
true piety and fincere Religion, fuch as are Prayer, 
Faffing, Alms-deeds, &c. after the example of devout 
Cornelius. Or thus : There are two forts of a£ts in 
religion, a£ts of humiliation and acts of confidence and 
joy: the perfon here defcribed to be in the dark ought 
to ufe the firft, and to forbear the fecond. Of the firft 
fort are repentance, prayers, fading, alms, mortifica- 
tions, &c. ; of the fecond, receiving of the Communion, 
praifes, Pfalms, &c. Thefe in divers cafes ought, and 
were of old forborne for a time. 



notes to the divine considerations. 393 
Page 174. 

In indifferent things there is room for motions, and 
expecting of them ; but in things good, as to relieve 
my neighbour, God hath already revealed his will 
about it ; therefore we ought to proceed, except there 
be a reftraining motion, (as St. Paul had) when he 
would have preached in Afia. And I conceive that 
reftraining motions are much more frequent to the 
godly than inviting motions, becaufe the Scripture in- 
vites enough, for it invites us to all good. According 
to that fingular place, Phil. iv. 8, a man is to embrace 
all good ; but becaufe he cannot do all, God often 
choofeth which he mail do, and that by reftraining 
him from what he would not have him do. 

Page 177. 

This doctrine, howfoever it is true in fubftance, 
yet it requireth difcreet and wary explaining. 

Page 199. 

By renouncing the help of human learning in the 
ftudying to underftand holy Scripture, he meaneth that 
we mould not ufe it as the only or as the principal 
means, becaufe the anointing which we have received 
and abideth in us teacheth us. 1 John ii. 27. 

Page 217. 

This Chapter is confiderable. The intent of it, 
that the world pierceth not only godly men's actions 
no more than God's, is in fome fort true, becaufe they 
are fpiritually difcerned ; 1 Cor. ii. 14. So likewife 
are the godly in fome fort exempt from laws, for the 



394 HERBERTS PROSE WORKS. 

law is not made for a righteous man ; I Tim. i. 9. 
But when he enlargeth he goes too far : for firft, con- 
cerning Abraham and Sarah, I ever took that for a 
weaknefs in the great Patriarch, and that the beft of 
God's fervants mould have weakneffes, is no way 
repugnant to the way of God's Spirit in them, or to 
the Scriptures, or to themfelves, being (till men, though 
godly men. Nay, they are purpofely recorded in Holy 
Writ. Wherefore, as David's adultery cannot be ex- 
cufed, fo need not Abraham's equivocation, nor Paul's 
neither, when he profefTed himfelf a Pharifee, which 
ftrictly he was not, though in the point of Refurreftion 
he agreed with them and they with him. The reviling 
alfo of Ananias feems by his own recalling, an over- 
fight ; yet I remember the Fathers forbid us to judge 
of the doubtful actions of Saints in Scripture, which is a 
modeft admonition. But it is one thing not to judge, 
another to defend them. Secondly, when he ufeth the 
word jurifdiction, allowing no jurifdiction over the 
godly, this cannot ftand, and it is ill doctrine in a 
Commonwealth. The godly are punifhable as others 
when they do amifs, and they are to be judged accord- 
ing to the outward fa£t, unlefs it be evident to others 
as well as to themfelves that God moved them ; for 
otherwife any malefactor may pretend motions which 
is infufferable in a Commonwealth. Neither do I 
doubt but if Abraham had lived in our kingdom under 
government, and had killed his fon Ifaac, but he might 
juftly have been put to death for it by the Magiftrate, 
unlefs he could have made it appear that it was done 
by God's immediate precept. He had done juftly, and 
yet had been punifhed juftly, that is, In humano foro, 
&c. fecundum praefumptionem legalem : according to 
the common and legal proceedings among men. So 
may a war be juft on both fides, and was juft in the 
Canaanites and Ifraelites both. How the godly are 



NOTES TO THE DIVINE CONSIDERATIONS. 395 

exempt from laws is a known point among Divines ; 
but when he fays they are equally exempt with God, 
that is dangerous and too for. The beft falve for the- 
whole Chapter is to diftinguifh judgment. There is a 
udgment of authority (upon a fact), and there is a 
judgment of the learned ; for as a Magiftrate judgeth 
in his tribunal, So a Scholar judgeth in his ftudy, and 
cenfureth this or that ; whence come fo many books 
of feveral men's opinions : perhaps he meant all of this 
latter, not of the former. Worldly learned men can- 
not judge fpiritual men's actions ; but the magiftrate 
may, and furely this the Author meant by the word 
Jurisdiction, for fo he ufeth the fame word in Con- 
iideration 68 ad finem. 

Page 220. 

The Author doth ftill difcover too flight a regard of 
the Scripture, as if it were but children's meat, whereas 
there is not only milk there, but ftrong meat alfo, Heb. 
v. 14; things hard to be underftood, 2 Pet. iii. 16; things 
needing great confideration, Matt. xxiv. 15. Befides, he 
oppofeth the teaching of the Spirit to the teaching of 
Scripture which the Holy Spirit wrote. Although the 
Holy Spirit apply the Scripture, yet what the Scripture 
teacheth the Spirit teacheth ; the Holy Spirit, indeed, 
fome time doubly teaching, both in penning and in ap- 
plying. I wonder how this opinion could befall fo good 
a man as it feems Valdeflb was, fince the Saints of God 
in all ages have ever held in fo precious efteem the 
word of God, as their joy and crown, and their treafure 
on earth. Yet his own practice feems to confute his 
opinion ; for the moft of his Confiderations, being 
grounded upon fome text of Scripture, mows that he 
was continually converfant in it, and not ufed it for a 
time only, and then caft it away, as he fays, ftrangely. 



396 Herbert's prose works. 

There is no more to be faid of this chapter, efpecially of 
the fifth thing in it, but that this his opinion of the 
Scripture is infufferable. As for the text of St. Peter, 
2 Pet. i. 19, which he makes the ground of this Con- 
fideration, building it all upon the word, "Until the day- 
ftar arife j" it is nothing. How many places do the fathers 
bring about "until" againft the Heretics who difputed 
againft the virginity of the Bleffed Virgin, out of the 
text, Matt. i. 25 ; where it is faid, Jofeph knew her not 
"until" {he had brought forth her firftborn fon,as if after- 
wards he had known her; and indeed, in common fenfe, 
if I bid a man ftay in a place until I come, I do not then 
bid him go away, but rather ftay longer, that I may 
fpeak with him or do fomething elfe when I come. So 
St. Peter bidding the difperfed Hebrews attend to the 
word till the day dawn, doth not bid them then caft 
away the word, or leave it off; but, however, he would 
have them attend to it till that time, and then afterward 
they will of themfelves attend it without his exhortation. 
Nay, it is obfervable that in that very place he prefers 
the word before the fight of the tranffiguration of Chrift. 
So that the word hath the precedence even of Revela- 
tion and Virions. 

Page 239. 

Divines hold that juftifying faith and the faith of 
miracles are divers gifts, and of a different nature ; the 
one being gratia gratis data^ the other gratia gratum 
faciens^ this being given only to the godly, and the 
other fometimes to the wicked : yet doubtlefs the beft 
faith in us is defective, and arrives not to the point it 
fhould, which if it did, it would do more than it does. 
And miracle-working, as it may be fevered from juftify- 
ing faith, fo it may be a fruit of it, and an exaltation. 
1 John v. 14. 



notes to the divine considerations. 397 

Page 247. 

Though this were the Author's opinion, yet the truth 
of it would be examined. The 98th Confideration, 
about being juftified by faith or by good works, or con- 
demned for unbelief or evil works, make plain the 
Author's meaning. 

Page 270. 

By the Saints of the world he everywhere underftands 
the cunning hypocrite, who by the world is counted a 
very faint for his outward mow of holinefs ; and we 
meet with two forts of thefe faints of the world : one 
whofe holinefs confifts in a few ceremonies and fuper- 
ftitious obfervations ; the others in a zeal againft thefe, 
and in a ftricT: performance of a few cheap and eafy 
duties of religion with no lefs fuperftition.; both of them 
having forms or vizors of godlinefs, but denying the 
power thereof. 

Page 354. 

Though this be the Author's opinion, yet the truth of 
it would be examined. The 98th Confideration, about 
being juftified by faith or by good works, or condemned 
for unbelief or evil works, make plain the Author's 
meaning. 

By Hebrew piety he meaneth not the very Ceremonies 
of the Jews, which no Chriftian obferves now, but an 
analogate observation of Ecclefiaftical and Canonical 
laws fuperinduced to the Scriptures, like to that of the 
Jews, which they added to their divine Law; this being 
well weighed will make the Confideration eafy and very 
obfervable : for at leaft fome of the Papifts are come 



398 Herbert's prose works 

now to what the Pharifees were come to in our Saviour's 
time. 

Page 355. 

This is true only of the Popifh Cafes of Conference, 
which depend almoft wholly on their Canon law and 
Decretals, knots of their own tying and untying; but 
there are other Cafes of Confcience, grounded on Piety 
and Morality, and the difficulty of applying their general 
rules to particular actions, which are a moft noble 
ftudy. 



399 



A Treatife of Temperance and 
Sobriety. 

[The following little tract was tranflated from the 
Italian of Lud. Cornarus, which, together with the 
Spanifh and French tongues, Herbert, as Walton 
inform us, " had learnt to underftand very per- 
fectly. " But his friend, Lord Bacon, has put the 
" regimen of health" into the fmalleft fpace : "There 
is a wifdom in this, beyond the Rules of Phyfic : 
A man's own obfervation, which he finds good of, 
and what he finds hurt of, is the beft phyfic to pre- 
ferve health." — Essays, xxx.] 

HAVING obferved in my time many of my friends, 
of excellent wit and noble difpofition, overthrown 
and undone by Intemperance ; who, if they had lived, 
would have been an ornament to the world, and a 
comfort to their friends ; I thought fit to difcover in a 
fhort Treatife, that Intemperance was not fuch an 
evil, but it might eafily be remedied ; which I under- 
take the more willingly, becaufe divers worthy young 
men have obliged me unto it. For when they faw 
their parents and kindred fnatched away in the midft of 
their days, and me, contrariwife, at the age of eighty 
and one, ftrong and lufty; they had a great defire to 
know the way of my life, and how I came to be fo. 
Wherefore, that I may fatiffy their honeft defire, and 
withal help many others, who will take this into con- 
fideration, I will declare the caufes which moved me 
to forfake Intemperance, and live a fober life, ex- 



400 Herbert's prose works. 

prefling alfo the means which I have ufed therein. 
I fay therefore, that the infirmities, which did not only 
begin, but had already gone far in me, firft caufed me 
to leave Intemperance, to which I was much addicted : 
For by it, and my ill conftitution (having a moft cold 
and moift ftomach), I fell into divers difeafes, to wit, 
into the pain of the ftomach, and often of the fide, and 
the beginning of the Gout, with almoft a continual 
fever and thirft. 

From this ill temper there remained little elfe to be 
expected of me, than that after many troubles and 
griefs I mould quickly come to an end ; whereas my 
life feemed as far from it by Nature, as it was near it 
by Intemperance. When therefore I was thus afflicted 
from the thirty-fifth year of my age to the fortieth, 
having tried all remedies fruitleffly, the Phyficians told 
me that yet there was one help for me, if I could con- 
ftantly purfue it, to wit, A fober and orderly life : for 
this had every way great force for the recovering and 
preferving of Health, as a diforderly life to the over- 
throwing of it ; as I too well by experience found. 
For temperance preferves even old men and fickly men 
found : But Intemperance deftroys moft healthy and 
fiourifhing conftitutions : For contrary caufes have 
contrary effects, and the faults of Nature are often 
amended by Art, as barren grounds are made fruitful 
by good hufbandry. They added withal, that unlefs 
I fpeedily ufed that remedy, within a few months I 
fhould be driven to that exigent, that there would be 
no help for me, but Death fhortly to be expected. 

Upon this, weighing their reafons with myfelf, and 
abhorring from fo fudden an end, and finding myfelf 
continually oppreffed with pain and ficknefs, I grew 
fully perfuaded, that all my griefs arofe out of Intem- 
perance : and therefore out of a hope of avoiding death 
and pain, I refolved to live a temperate life. 



OF TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY 40 1 

Whereupon, being directed by them in the way I 
ought to hold, I underftood, that the food I was to 
life, was fuch as belonged to ficlcly conftitutions, and 
that in a fmall quantity. This they had told me be- 
fore : But I, then not liking that kind of Diet, fol- 
lowed my Appetite, and did eat meats pleafing to my 
tafte ; and when I felt inward heats, drank delightful 
wines, and that in great quantity ; telling my Phyficians 
nothing thereof, as is the cuftom of fick people. But 
after I had refolved to follow Temperance and Reafon, 
and faw that it was no hard thing to do fo, but the 
proper duty of man ; I fo addicted myfelf to this 
courfe of life, that I never went a foot out of the way. 
Upon this, I found within a few days, that I was ex- 
ceedingly helped, and by continuance thereof, within 
lefs than one year (although it may feem to fome in- 
credible), I was perfectly cured of all my infirmities. 

Being now found and well, I began to confider the 
force of Temperance, and to think thus with myfelf: 
If Temperance had fo much power as to bring me 
health : how much more to prefcrve it ! Wherefore 
I began to fearch out moft diligently what meats were 
agreeable unto me, and what difagreeable : and I 
purpofed to try, whether thofe that pleafed my tafte 
brought me commodity or difcommodity ; and whether 
that Proverb, wherewith Gluttons ufed to defend 
themfelves, to wit, That which favours is good and 
nourifheth, be confonant to truth. This upon trial I 
found mod falfe : for ftrong and very cool wines pleafed 
my tafte beft, as alfo melons, and other fruit - y in like 
manner, raw lettuce, fifh, pork, faufages, pulfe, and 
cake and piecruft, and the like : and yet all thefe I 
found hurtful. 

Therefore trufting on experience, I forfook all thefe 
kind of meats and drinks, and chofe that wine that fitted 
myftomach, and in fuch meafure as eafily might be di- 

D D 



402 Herbert's prose works. 

gefted : above all, taking care never to rife with a full 
ftomach, but fo as I might well both eat and drink 
more. By this means, within lefs than a year I was 
not only freed from all thofe evils which had fo long 
befet me, and were almoft become incurable ; but alfo 
afterwards I fell not into that yearly difeafe, where- 
into I was wont, when I pleafed my Senfe and Ap- 
petite. Which benefits alfo ftill continue, becaufe from 
the time that I was made whole, I never fince departed 
from my fettled courfe of Sobriety, whofe admirable 
power caufeth that the meat and drink that is taken 
in fit meafure, gives true ftrength to the body, all 
fuperfluities pafling away without difficulty, and no ill 
humours being engendered in the body. 

Yet with this diet I avoided other hurtful things 
alfo, as too much heat and cold, wearinefs, watching, 
ill air, overmuch ufe of the benefit of marriage. For 
although the power of health confifts moft in the pro- 
portion of meat and drink, yet thefe forenamed things 
have alfo their force. I preferved me alfo, as much as 
I could, from hatred and melancholy, and other pur- 
turbations of the mind, which have a great power over 
our conftitutions. Yet could I not fo avoid all thefe, 
but that now and then I fell into them, which gained me 
this experience, that I perceived that they had no great 
power to hurt thofe bodies which were kept in good 
order by a moderate Diet : So that I can truly fay, 
That they who in thefe two things that enter in at the 
mouth keep a fit proportion, mall receive little hurt 
from other exceffes. 

This Galen confirms, when he fays, that immoderate 
heats and colds, and winds and labours, did little hurt 
him, becaufe in his meats and drinks he kept a due 
moderation, and therefore never was fick by any of 
thefe inconveniences, except it were for one only day. 
But mine own experience confirmeth this more as all 



OF TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. 403 

that know me can teftify : For having endured many- 
heats and colds, and other like difcommodities of the 
body and troubles of the mind, all thefe did hurt me 
little, whereas they hurt them very much who live in- 
temperately. For when my brother and others of my 
kindred faw fome great powerful men pick quarrels 
againft me, fearing left I mould be overthrown, they 
were poffefTed with a deep Melancholy (a thing ufual 
to diforderly lives), which increafed fo much in them, 
that it brought them to a fudden end ; but I, whom 
that matter ought to have affected moft, received no 
inconvenience thereby, becaufe that humour abounded 
not in me. 

Nay, I began to perfuade myfelf, that this fuit and 
contention was raifed by the Divine Providence, that 
I might know what great power a fober and temperate 
life hath over our bodies and minds, and that at length 
I mould be a conqueror, as alfo a little after it came 
to pafs : For in the end I got the victory, to my great 
honour and no lefs profit, whereupon alfo I joyed ex- 
ceedingly, which excefs of joy neither could do me 
any hurt : By which it is manifeft, That neither me- 
lancholy nor any other paflion can hurt a temperate life. 

Moreover, I fay, that even bruifes, and fquats, and 
falls, which often kill others, can bring little grief or 
hurt to thofe that are temperate. This I found by 
experience when I was feventy years old ; for riding 
in a coach in a great hafte, it happened that the coach 
was overturned, and then was dragged for a good fpace 
by the fury of the horfes, whereby my head and whole 
body was fore hurt, and alfo one of my arms and legs 
put out of joint. Being carried home, when the Phy- 
ficians faw in what cafe I was, they concluded that I 
would die within three days ; neverthelefs, at a ven- 
ture, two remedies might be ufed, letting of blood and 
purging, that the ftore of humours and inflammation 
D D 2 



4O4 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

and fever (which was certainly expected) might be 
hindered. 

But, I, confidering what an orderly life I had led for 
many years together, which muft needs fo temper the 
humours of the body, that they could not be much 
troubled, or make a great concourfe, refufed both 
remedies, and only commanded that my arm and leg 
mould be fet, and my whole body anointed with oil ; 
and fo without other remedy or inconvenience I re- 
covered, which feemed as a miracle to the Phyficians ; 
whence I conclude, that they that live a temperate 
life can receive little hurt from other inconveniences. 

But my experience taught me another thing alfo, to 
wit, than an orderly and regular life can hardly be 
altered without exceeding great danger. 

About four years fince, I was led, by the advice of 
Phyficians, and the daily importunity of my friends, 
to add fomething to my ufual ftint and meafure. Di- 
vers reafons they brought, as that old age could not 
be fuftained with fo little meat and drink ; which yet 
needs not only to be fuftained, but alfo to gather ftrength, 
which could not be but by meat and drink. On the 
other fide, I argued that Nature was contented with 
a little, and that I had for many years continued in 
good health with that little meafure ; that Cuftom was 
turned into Nature, and therefore it was agreeable to 
reafon, that my years increafing and ftrength decreafing, 
my ftint of meat and drink fhould be diminifhed rather 
than increafed, that the patient might be proportionable 
to the agent, and efpecially fince the power of my 
ftomach every day decreafed. To this agreed two Ita- 
lian Proverbs, the one whereof was, * He that will eat 
much, let him eat little \ becaufe by eating little he 

* Mangiera pi"U chi manco mangia. Ed e' eontrario, 
Chi piu mangia, manco mangia. II fenlb e 
Poco vive chi troppo iparechia. 



OF TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. 405 

prolongs his life. The other Proverb was, *The meat 
which remaineth profits more than that which is eaten ; 
by which is intimated, that the hurt of too much meat 
is greater than the commodity of meat taken in a mo- 
derate proportion. 

But all thefe things could not defend me againft 
their importunities. Therefore to avoid obftinacy and 
gratify my friends, at length I yielded, and permitted 
the quantity of meat to be increafed, yet but two ounces 
only ; for whereas before, the meafure of my whole 
day's meat, viz. of my bread, and eggs, and flefh, and 
broth, was twelve ounces exactly weighed, I increafed 
it to the quantity of two ounces more ; and the mea- 
fure of my drink, which before was fourteen ounces, I 
made now fixteen. 

This addition, after ten days, wrought fo much upon 
me, that of a cheerful and merry man I became me- 
lancholy and choleric, fo that all things were trouble- 
fome to me ; neither did I know well what I did or 
laid. On the twelfth day, a pain of the fide took me, 
which held me two and twenty hours. Upon the neck 
of it came a terrible fever, which continued thirty-five 
days and nights, although after the fifteenth day it 
grew lefs and lefs ; befides all this I could not lleep, 
no, not a quarter of an hour, whereupon all gave me 
up for dead. 

Neverthelefs, I, by the grace of God, cured myfelf 
only with returning to my former courfe of Diet, al- 
though I was now feventy-eight years old, and my 
body fpent with extreme leannefs, and the feafon of 
the year was winter, and moft cold air ; and I am con- 
fident that, under God, nothing holp me, but that 
exacT: rule which I had fo long continued ; in all which 

* Fa pin pro quel' che fi lafcia fill' tondo, che 
Qjjel' che fi mette nel ventre. 



406 HERBERT PROSE WORKS. 

time I felt no grief, fave now and then a little indifpo- 
fition for a day or two. 

For the Temperance of fo many years fpent all ill 
humours, and fuffered not any new of that kind to 
arife, neither the good humours to be corrupted or 
contract any ill quality, as ufually happens in old men's 
bodies, which live without rule ; for there is no malig- 
nity of old age in the humours of my body, which 
commonly kills men, and that new one which I con- 
tracted by breaking my diet, although it was a fore 
evil, yet had no power to kill me. 

By this it may clearly be perceived how great is the 
power of order and diforder ; whereof the one kept me 
well for many years, the other, though it was but a 
little excefs, in a few days had fo foon overthrown me. 
If the world confift of order, if our corporal life depend 
on the harmony of humours and elements, it is no 
wonder that order mould preferve, and diforder deftroy. 
Order makes arts eafy, and armies victorious, and re- 
tains and confirms kingdoms, cities, and families in 
peace. Whence I conclude, That an orderly life is 
the moft fure way and ground of health and long days, 
and the true and only medicine of many difeafes. 

Neither can any man deny this who will narrowly 
confider it. Hence it comes, that a Phyfician, when 
he cometh to vifit his patient, prefcribes this Phyfic 
firft, that he ufe a moderate diet ; and when he hath 
cured him commends this alfo to him, if he will live 
in health. Neither is it to be doubted, but that he 
fhall ever after live free from difeafes, if he will keep 
fuch a courfe of life ; becaufe this will cut off all caufes 
of difeafes, fo that he fhall need neither Phyfic nor 
Phyfician : yea, if he will give his mind to thofe things 
which he mould, he will prove himfelf a Phyfician, 
and that a very complete one ; for indeed no man can be a 
perfect Phyfician to another, but to himfelf only. The 



OF TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. 4O7 

reafon whereof is this : Every one by long experience 
may know the qualities of his own nature, and what 
hidden properties it hath, what meat and drink agrees 
beft with it , which things ill others cannot be known 
without fuch obfervation as is not eafily to be made 
upon others, efpecially fince there is a greater diverfity 
of tempers than of faces. Who would believe that 
old wine fhould hurt my ftomach, and new mould 
help it, or that cinnamon mould heat me more than 
pepper ? What Phyfician could have difcovered thefe 
hidden qualities to me, if I had not found them out by 
long experience ? Wherefore one to another cannot 
be a perfect Phyfician. Whereupon I conclude, fince 
none can have a better Phyfician than himfelf, nor 
better Phyfic than a Temperate life, Temperance by 
all means is to be embraced. 

Neverthelefs, I deny not but that Phyficians are 
neceflary, and greatly to be efteemed for the knowing 
and curing of difeafes, into which they often fall who 
live diforderly: For if a friend who vifits thee in thy 
ficknefs, and only comforts and condoles, doth perform 
an acceptable thing to thee, how much more dearly 
mould a Phyfician be efteemed, who not only as a friend 
doth vifit thee, but help thee ! 

But that a man may preferve himfelf in health, I 
advife, that inftead of a Phyfician a regular life is to be 
embraced, which, as is manifeft by experience, is a 
natural Phyfic moft agreeable to us, and alfo doth pre- 
ferve even ill tempers in good health, and procure that 
they prolong their life even to a hundred years and 
more, and that at length they fhut up their days like a 
Lamp, only by a pure confumption of the radical 
moifture, without grief or perturbation of humours. 
Many have thought that this could be done by Aurum 
potabile, or the Philofopher's ftone, fought of many, and 



408 Herbert's prose works. 

found of few; but furely there is no fuch matter, if 
Temperance be wanting. 

But fenfual men (as moft are), defiring to fatiffy their 
Appetite and pamper their belly, although they fee them- 
felves ill handled by their intemperance, yet fhun a fober 
life ; becaufe, they fay, It is better to pleafe the Appetite 
(though they live ten years lefs than otherwife they 
mould do) than always to live under bit and bridle. But 
they confider not of how great moment ten years are in 
mature age, wherein wifdom and all kind of virtues is 
moft vigorous ; which, but in that age, can hardly be 
perfected. And that I may fay nothing of other things, 
are not almoft all the learned books that we have, 
written by their Authors in that age, and thofe ten 
years which they fet at nought in regard of their 
belly ? 

B elides, thefe Belly-gods fay, that an orderly life is fo 
hard a thing that it cannot be kept. To this I anfwer, 
that Galen kept it, and held it for the beft Phyfic ; fo 
did Plato alfo, and Ifocrates, and Tully, and many others 
of the Ancients ; and in our age, Paul the Third, and 
Cardinal Bembo, who therefore lived fo long ; and 
among our Dukes, Laudus and Donatus, and many 
others of inferior condition, not only in the city, but alfo 
in villages and hamlets. 

Wherefore, fince many have obferved a regular life, 
both of old times and later years, it is no fuch thing 
which may not be performed ; efpecially fince in ob- 
ferving it there needs not many and curious things, but 
only that a man mould begin, and by little and little 
accuftom himfelf unto it. 

Neither doth it hinder, that Plato fays, That they 
who are employed in the commonwealth cannot live 
regularly, becaufe they muft often endure heats, and 
colds, and winds, and mowers, and divers labours, 



OF TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. 409 

which fuit not with an orderly life : For I anfwer, 
That thofe inconveniences are of no great moment 
(as I mowed before) if a man be temperate in meat 
and drink, which is both eafy for commonweal's men, 
and very convenient, both that they may preferve them- 
felves from difeafes, which hinder public employment ; 
a9 alfo that their mind, in all things wherein they deal, 
may be more lively and vigorous. 

But fome may fay, He which lives a regular life, eat- 
ing always light meats and in a little quantity, what diet 
fhall he ufe in difeafes, which being in health he hath 
anticipated ? I anfwer firft, Nature, which endeavours 
to preferve a man as much as fhe can, teacheth us how 
to govern ourfelves in ficknefs : For fuddenly it takes 
away our appetite, fo that we can eat but a very little, 
wherewith fhe is very well contented : So that a fick 
man, whether he hath lived heretofore orderly or dif- 
orderly, when he is fick, ought not to eat but fuch meats 
as are agreeable to his difeafe, and that in much fmaller 
quantity than when he was well. For if he mould keep 
his former proportion, Nature, which is already bur- 
dened with a difeafe, would be wholly opprelTed. 
Secondly, I anfwer better, that he which lives a tem- 
perate life, cannot fall into difeafes, and but very feldom 
into indifpofitions, becaufe Temperance takes away the 
caufes of difeafes ; and the caufe being taken away, there 
is no place for the effect. 

Wherefore, fince an orderly life is fo profitable, (o 
virtuous, fo decent, and fo holy, it is worthy by all means 
to be embraced ; efpecially fince it is eafy and moll: 
agreeable to the nature of Man. No man that follows 
it, is bound to eat and drink fo little as I : No man is 
forbidden to eat fruit or fifh, which I eat not : For I 
eat little, becaufe a little fufficeth my weak ftomach ; 
and I abftain from fruit and fifh, and the like, becaufe 
they hurt me. But they who find benefit in thefe meats 



410 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

may, yea ought to ufe them -, yet all muft needs take 
heed left they take a greater quantity of any meat or 
drink (though moft agreeable to them) than their 
ftomach can eafily digeft : So that he which is offended 
with no kind of meat and drink, hath the quantity, and 
not the quality for his rule, which is very eafy to be 
obferved. 

Let no man here objecT: unto me, That there are 
many, who though they live diforderly, yet continue in 
health to their lives' end : Becaufe fince this is at the 
beft but uncertain, dangerous, and very rare, the 
prefuming upon it ought not to lead us to a diforderly 
life. 

It is not the part of a wife man to expofe himfelf to 
fo many dangers of difeafes and death, only upon a 
hope of a happy iffue, which yet befalls very few. An 
old man of an ill conftitution, but living orderly, is 
more fure of his life than the moft ftrong young man 
who lives diforderly. 

But fome, too much given to Appetite, object, 
That a long life is no fuch defirable thing, becaufe 
that after one is once fixty-five years old, all the time 
we live after is rather death than life : But thefe err 
greatly, as I will fhow by myfelf, recounting the de- 
lights and pleafures in this age of eighty-three, which 
now I take, and which are fuch as that men generally 
account me happy. 

I am continually in health, and I am fo nimble, that 
I can eafily get on horfeback without the advantage of 
the ground, and fometimes I go up high ftairs and hills 
on foot. Then, I am ever cheerful, merry, and well- 
contented, free from all troubles and troublefome 
thoughts ; in whofe place joy and peace have taken up 
their ftanding in my heart. I am not weary of life, 
which I pafs with great delight. I confer often with 
worthy men, excelling in wit, learning, behaviour, and 



OF TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. 41 I 

other virtues. When I cannot have their company, 
I give myfelf to the reading of fome learned book, and 
afterwards to writing ; making it my aim in all things, 
how I may help others to the furtheft of my power. 

All thefe things I do at my eafe, and at fit feafons, 
and in mine own houfes ; which, befides that they are 
in the faireft place of this learned City of Padua, are 
very beautiful and convenient above moft in this age, 
being fo built by me according to the rules of Archi- 
tecture, that they are cool in fummer, and warm in 
winter. 

I enjoy alfo my gardens, and thofe divers, parted 
with rills of running water, which truly is very de- 
lightful. Some times of the year I enjoy the pleafure 
of the Euganean hills, where alfo I have fountains and 
gardens, and a verv convenient houfe. At other times, 
I repair to a village of mine, feated in the valley ; which 
is therefore very pleafant, becaufe many ways thither 
are fo ordered, that they all meet, and end in a fair 
plot of ground ; in the midft whereof is a Church fuit- 
able to the condition of the place. This place is 
warned with the river of Brenta ; on both fides where- 
of are great and fruitful fields, well manured and 
adorned with many habitations. In former time it was 
not fo, becaufe the place was mooriih and unhealthy, 
fitter for beafts than men. But I drained the ground, 
and made the air good : Whereupon men flocked thi- 
ther, and built houfes with happy fuccefs. By this 
means the place is come to that perfection we now 
fee it is ; So that I can truly fay, That I have both 
given God a Temple, and men to worfhip him in it : 
The memory whereof is exceeding delightful to me. 

Sometimes I ride to fome of the neighbour cities, 
that I may enjoy the fight and the communication of 
my friends, as alfo of excellent Artificers in architec- 
ture, painting, ftone-cutting, mufic, and hufbandry, 



412 Herbert's prose works. 

whereof in this age there is great plenty. I view their 
pieces, I compare them with thofe of Antiquity : And 
ever I learn fomewhat which is worthy of my know- 
ledge : I furvey palaces, gardens, and antiquities, pub- 
lic fabrics, temples, and fortifications ; neither omit I 
any thing that may either teach or delight me. I am 
much pleafed alfo in my travels, with the beauty of 
fituation. Neither is this my pleafure made lefs by 
the decaying dulnefs of my fenfes, which are all in 
their perfect vigour, but efpecially my Tafte ; fo that 
any fimple fare is more favoury to me now, than here- 
tofore, when I was given to diforder and all the de- 
lights that could be. 

To change my bed, troubles me not ; I fleep well 
and quietly any where, and my dreams are fair and 
pleafant. But this chiefly delights me, that my advice 
hath taken effect in the reducing of many rude and 
untoiled places in my country, to cultivation and good 
hufbandry. I was one of thofe that was deputed for 
the managing of that work, and abode in thofe fenny 
places two whole months in the heat of fummer, 
(which in Italy is very great) receiving not any hurt 
or inconvenience thereby : So great is the power and 
efficacy of that Temperance which ever accompanied 
me. 

Thefe are the delights and folaces of my old age, 
which is altogether to be preferred before other's 
youth : Becaufe that by temperance and the Grace of 
God I feel not thofe perturbations of body and mind, 
wherewith infinite both young and old are afflicted. 

Moreover, by this alfo, in what eftate I am, may 
be difcovered, becaufe at thefe years (viz. eighty-three) 
I have made a moft pleafant comedy, full of honeft 
wit and merriment : which kind of Poems ufeth to be 
the child of Youth, which it moft fuits withal for 
variety and pleafantnefs ; as a Tragedy with old Age, 



OF TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. 413 

by rcafon of the (lid events which it contains. And if 
a Greek poet of old was praifed, that at the age of 
feventy- three years he writ a Tragedy, why fhould I 
be accounted lefs happy, or lefs myfelf, who being ten 
years older have made a Comedy ? 

Now left there fhould be any delight wanting to my 
old age, I daily behold a kind of immortality in the 
fucceflion of my pofterity. For when I come home, 
I find eleven grand children of mine, all the fons of 
one father and mother, all in perfect health ; all as far 
as I can conjecture, very apt and well given both for 
learning and behaviour. I am delighted with their 
mufic and fafhion, and I myfelf alfo fing often ; be- 
caufe I have now a clearer voice, than ever I had in 
my life. 

By which it is evident, that the life which I live at 
this age, is not a dead, dumpifh, and four life; but 
cheerful, lively, and pleafant : Neither if I had my 
wifli, would I change age and conftitution with them 
who follow their youthful appetites, although they be 
of a moft ftrong temper : Becaufe fuch are daily ex- 
pofed to a thoufand dangers and deaths, as daily ex- 
perience fhoweth, and I alfo, when I was a young 
man, too well found. I know how inconfiderate that 
age is, and, though fubjecT: to death, yet continually 
afraid of it : for death to all young men is a terrible 
thing, as alfo to thofe that live in fin, and follow their 
appetites ; whereas I by the experience of fo many 
years have learned to give way to Reafon : whence it 
feems to me, not only a fhameful thing to fear that 
which cannot be avoided ; but alfo I hope, when I 
mail come to that point, I fhall find no little comfort 
in the favour of Jefus Chrift. Yet I am fure that my 
end is far from me : for I know that (fetting cafualties 
afide) I fhall not die but by a pure refolution : becaufe 
that by the regularity of my life I have fhut out death 



414 HERBERT S PROSE WORKS. 

all other ways ; and that is a fair and defirable death, 
which Nature brings by way of refolution, 

Since, therefore, a temperate life is fo happy and 
pleafant a thing ; what remains, but that I mould 
wifli all who have the care of themfelves, to embrace 
it with open arms ? 

Many things more might be faid in commendation 
hereof: but left in any thing I forfake that Temper- 
ance which I have found fo good, I here make an end. 



LATIN AND GREEK POEMS. 

PARENTALIA. 

Auctore G. HERBERT. 

Memoriae Matris Sacrum. 



[The following verfes were printed at the end of 
the Sermon which Donne preached at Chelfea in 1627, 
in memory of Herbert's mother, of whofe tender watch- 
fulnefs his life makes mention : " And this great care 
of hers," writes Barnabas Oley, " this good fon of 
hers ftudied to improve and requite, as is feen in thofe 
many Latin and Greek verfes, the obfequious Paren- 
talia he made and printed in her memory ; which 
though they be good, very good, yet (to fpeak freely 
even of this man whom I fo much honour), they be 
dull, or dead in comparifon of his Temple Poems, and no 
marvel. To write thofe, he made his ink with water of 
Helicon ; but thefe Infpirations prophetical were dif- 
tilled from above : in thofe are weak motions of Na- 
ture, in thefe raptures of Grace." — B. Oley, 1652.] 



AH Mater, quo te deplorem fonte ? Dolores 
Quae guttae poterunt enumerare meos ? 
Sicca meis lacrymis Thamefis vicina videtur, 
Virtutumque choro ficcior ipfe tuo. 



416 Herbert's poems. 

In flumen moerore nigrum fi funderer ardens, 
Laudibus haud fierem fepia jufta tuis. 

Tantum iftaec fcribo gratus> ne tu mihi tantum 
Mater : et ifta Dolor nunc tibi Metra parit. 



CORNELIA fanctae, graves Sempronias, 
Et quicquid ufpiam eft feverae fceminae, 
Conferte lacrymas : Ilia, quae vos mifcuit 
Veftraque laudes, pofcit et mixtas genas. 
Namque hanc ruinam falva Gravitas defleat, 
Pudorque conftet vel folutis crinibus ; 
Quandoque vultus fola majeftas, Dolor. 

Decus mulierum periit : et metuunt viri 
Utrumque fexum dote ne mul&averit. 
Non ilia foles terere comptu lubricos, 
Struices fuperbas atque turritum caput 
Molita, reliquum deinde garriens diem, 
(Nam poft Babelem linguae adeft confufio,) 
Quin poft modeftam, qualis integras decet, 
SubftrucTiionem capitis et nimbum brevem, 
Animam recentem rite curavit facris, 
Adorta numen acri et ignea prece. 

Dein familiam luftrat, et res prandii, 
Horti, colique diftributim penfitat. 
Suum cuique tempus et locus datur. 
Inde exiguntur penfa crudo vefpere. 
Ratione certa vita conftat et domus, 
Prudenter inito quot-diebus calculo. 
Tota renident aede decus et fuavitas 
Animo renidentes prius. Sin rarior 
Magnatis appulfu extulit fe occafio, 
Surrexit una et ilia, fefeque extulit : 
Occafione certat imo et obtinet. 
Proh ? quantus imber. ouanta labri comitas, 



PARENTALIA. 417 

Lepos feverus, Pallas mixta Gratiis ; 
Loquitur numellas, compedes, et retia : 
Aut fi negotio hora fumenda eft, rei 
Per angiportus et maeandros labitur, 
Ipfos Catones provocans oraculis. 
Turn quanta tabulis artifex ? quae fcriptio ? 
Bellum putamen, nucleus belliftlmus 
Sentential cum voce mire convenit. 
Volant per orbem literae notiflimae : 
O blanda dextra, neutiquam iftoc pulveris, 
Quo nunc recumbis, fcriptio merita eft tua, 
Paitoli arena tibi tumulus eft unicus. 

Adde his trientem Mufices, quae molliens 
Mulcenfque dotes caeteras, vifa eft quafi 
Caeleftis harmoniae breve praeludium. 
Quam mira tandem Sublevatrix pauperum ? 
Languentium baculus, teges jacentium, 
Commune cordis palpitantis balfamum : 
Benedi&iones publicae cingunt caput, 
Caelique referunt et praeoccupant modum. 
Fatifco, referens tanta quae numerant mei 
Solum dolores, — et dolores, ftellulae ! 

At tu qui inepte haec di£ta cenfes filio, 
Nato parentis auferens Encomium, 
Abito trunce cum tuis pudoribus. 
Ergo ipfe folum mutus atque excors ero 
Strepente mundo tinnulis praeconiis ? 
Mihine Matris urna claufa eft unico, 
Herbae exoletae, rof-marinus aridus ? 
Matrine linguam refero folum ut mordeam r 
Abito barde ! Quam pie iftic fum impudens ? 
Tu vero mater perpetim laudabere 
Nato dolenti : literae hoc debent tibi 
Queis me educafti ; fponte chartas illinunt 
Frudtum laborum confecutae maximum 
Laudando Matrem, cum repugnant infcii. 
E E 



4*8 Herbert's poems. 

CUR fplendes, O Phoebe? ecquid demittere matrern 
Ad nos cum radio tam rutilante potes ? 
At fuperat caput ilia tuum, quantum ipfa cadaver 

Mens fuperat ; corpus folum Elementa tenent. 
Scilicet id fplendes : haec eft tibi caufa micandi 

Et lucro apponis gaudia fancta tuo. 
Verum heus fi nequeas ccelo demittere Matrem, 

Sitque omnis motus nefcia 5 tanta quies, 
Fac radios faltem ingemines, ut dextera tortos 

Implicet, et Matrem, Matre manente, petam. 



QUID nugor calamo favens ? 
Mater perpetuis uvida gaudiis, 

norto pro tenui colit 
Edenem Boreas flatibus invium. 

Quin cceli mihi funt mei, 
Materni decus, et debita nominis, 

Dumque his invigilo frequens 
Stellarum focius, pellibus exuor. 

Ouare Sphasram egomet meam 
Connixus, digitis impiger urgeo : 

Te, Mater, celebrans diu, 
Noftu te celebrans luminis aamulo. 

Per te nafcor in hunc globum, 
Exemploque tuo nafcor in alterum : 

Bis tu Mater eras mihi, 
Ut currat paribus gloria tibiis. 



HORTI, deliciae Dominae, marcefcite tandem ; 
Ornaftis capulum, nee fuperefTe licet. 
Ecce decus veftrum fpinis horrefcit, acuta 
Cultricem revocans anxietate manum : 



PARENTALIA. 419 

Terram et funus olent florcs : Dominaeque cadaver 

Contiguas ftirpes afHat, eaeque rofas. 
In terram violae capite inclinantur opaco, 

Ouaeque domus Dominae fit, gravitate docent. 
Ouare haud vos hortos, fed caemeteria dico, 

Dum torus abfentem quifque reponit heram. 
Euge, perite omnes ; nee pofthac exeat ulla 

Ouaefitum Dominam gemma vel herba fuam. 
Cuncta ad radices redeant, tumulofque paternos ; 

(Nempe fepulcra Satis numen inempta dedit) 
Occidite ; aut fane tantifper vivite, donee 

Vefpere ros maeflis funus honeftct aquis. 



GALENE fruftra es, cur miferum premens 
Tot quaeftionum fluctibus obruis, 
Arterias tracl:ans micantes 
Corporeae fluidaeque molis ? 
Aegroto mentis ? quam neque pixides 
Nee tarda pofTunt pharmaca confequi, 
Utrumque fi praederis Indum, 
Ultra animus fpatiatur exlex. 
Impos medendi, occidere fi potes, 
Nee fie jvirentem ducar ad optimam : 
Ni fandte, uti Mater, recedam, 
Morte magis viduabor ilia. 
Ouin cerne ut erres infcie, brachium 
Tentando fanum : fi calet, aeftuans, 
Ardore fcribendi calefcit, 
Mater ineft faliente vena. 
Si totus inrler, fi tumeam erepax, 
Ne membra culpes, caufi animo lateL 
Oui parturit laudes parentis : 
Nee gravidis medicina tuta elt. 
E E 2 



420 Herbert's poems. 

Irregularis nunc habitus mihi eft : 
Non exigatur crafis ad alterum. 

Quod tu febrem cenfes, falubre eft 
Atque animo medicatur unum, 



PALLIDA materni Genii atque exanguis imago, 
In nebulas fimilefque tui res gaudia numquia 
iviutata ? et pro matre mihi phantafma dolofum 
L'beraque aerea hifcentem fallentia natum ? 
Vse nubi pluvia gravidas, non lacte, meafque 
Ridenti lacrymas quibus unis concolor unda eft. 
Quin fugias ? mea non fuerat tarn nubila Juno, 
Tarn fegnis facies auroras nefcia vernae, 
Tarn languens genitrix cineri fuppofta fugaci : 
Verum augufta parens, fanctum os caeloque locandum. 
Ouale paludofos jamjam liftura receffiis 
Praetulit Aftraea, aut folio Themis alma vetufto 
Penfilis^ atque acri dirimens Examine lites. 
Hunc vultum oftendas, et tecum nobile fpectrum 
Ouod fupereft vitae, infumam ; Solifque jugales 
Ipfe tuae folum adnecl:am, fine murmure, thenfas. 
Nee querar ingratos, ftudiis dum tabidus infto, 
EffluxifTe dies, fufrbcatamve Minervam, 
Aut fpes produ£tas, barbataque fomnia vertam 
In vicium mundo fterili, cui cedo cometas 
Ipfe fuos, tanquam digno, pallentiaque aftra. 

Eft mihi bis quinis laqueata domuncula tignis 
Rure ; brevifque hortus, cujus cum vellere Horum 
Lucl:atur fpacium, quaiem tamen eligit aequi 
Judicii dominus, flores ut jun6lius halent 
Stipati, rudibufque volis irnpervius hortus 
Sit quafi fafciculus crefcens, et nidus odorum. 
Hie ego tuque erimus, variae fuffitibus herbae 
Ouotidie pafti : tantum verum indue vultum 



PARENTALIA 4.2 I 

Affe&ufque mci fimilem ; nee languida mifce 
Ora meae memori menti : ne difpare cultu 
Pugnaces, teneros florum turbemus odorcs, 
Atque inter reliquos horti crefcentia foetus 
Noftra etiam paribus marcefcant gaudia fatis. 



PARVAM piamque dum lubenter femitam 
Grandi reaeque praefero, 
(Jarpfit malignum fydus hanc modeftiam, 

Vinumque felle mifcuit. 
Hinc fremere totus et minari geftio 

Ipfis feverus orbibus, 
Tandem prehensa comiter lacernula 

Sufurrat aure quifpiam, 
Haec fuerat olim potio Domini tui. 

Gufto proboque Dolium. 



HOC Genitrix, fcripium proles tibi fedula mittit. 
Sifte parum cantus, dum legis ifta, tuos. 
Node fui quid agant, quaedam eft quoque mufica fancHs 

Ouaeque olim fuerat cura, manere poteft. 
Nos mifere flemus, folefque obducimus almos 

Occiduis, tanquam duplice nube, genis. 
Interea claffem magnis Rex inftruit aufis : 

Nos autem flemus : res ea fola tuis, 
Ecce folutura eft, ventos caufata morantes : 

Sin pluviam : fletus fuppeditaflet aquas. 
Tillius incumbit Dano : Gallufque marinis : 

Nos flendo : haec noftrum telTera fola ducum. 
Sic aevum exigitur tardum, dum praepetis anni 

Mille rotae nimiis impediuntur aquis. 



4^2 Herbert's poems. 

Plura tibi miffurus eram (nam quae mihi laurus, 
Quod nectar, nifi cum te celebrare diem ?) 

Sed partem in fcriptis etiam dum lacryma pofcit, 
Diluit oppofitas candidus humor aquas. 



NEMPE hujufque notos tenebricofos, 
Et maeftum nimio madore Cesium, 
Tellurifque Britannicae falivam 
Injufle fatis arguit viator. 
At te commoriente, Magna Mater, 
Recte, quern trahit, aerem repellit 
Cum probro madidum, reumque difHat. 
Nam te nunc Ager, Urbs, et Aula plorant : 
Te nunc Anglia, Scotiaeque binae 
Ouin te Cambria pervetufta deflet, 
Deducens lacrymas prioris aevi 
Ne ferae meritis tuis venirent. 
Non eft angulus ufpiam ferenus, 
Nee cingit mare, nunc inundat omnes. 



1 \UM librata fuis haeret radicibus ilex 
1 J Nefcia Vulturnis cedere, firma manet. 
toit ubi crudelem fentit divifa fecurem, 

Quo placet oblato, mortua fertur, hero : 
Arbor et ipfe inverfa vocor : dumque infitus alm^e 

Affideo Matri, robore vinco cedros. 
Nunc forti pateo, expofitus fine matre procellis, 

Lubricus, et fuperans mobilitate falum. 
Tu radix, tu petra mihi firmiiTima, Mater 

Ceu Polypus, chelis faxa prehendo tenax : 



PARENTALIA. 423 

Non tibi nunc foli filum abrupere forores 

Diffutus videor funere et ipfe tuo. 
Unde vagans paflim recte vocer alter UlvfTes, 

Alteraque haec tua mors, Uias efto mihi. 



FACESSE Stoica plebs, obambulans cautes. 
Exuta ftrato carnis, oflibus conftans, 
lifque ficcis, adeo ut os MolofTorum 
Haud glubat inde tres teruncios efcae. 
Dolere prohibes ? aut dolere me gentis 
Adeo inficetae, plumbeae, Medufese, 
Ad faxa fpeciem retrahentis humanam, 
Tantoque nequioris optima Pyrrha. 
At forte matrem perdere haud foles demens : 
Ouin nee potcs ; cui prsebuit Tigris partum. 
Proinde parco belluis, nee irafcor. 



Epitaphium. 



HIC fita fceminei laus et victoria fexus : 
Virgo pudens, uxor fida, fevera parens : 
Magnatumque inopumque aequum certamen et ardor : 

Nobilitate illos, hos pietate rapit. 
Sic excelfa humilifque iimul loca diflita junxit, 
Ouicquid habet tellus, quicquid et aftra, fruens. 



iXf U X*7C avOevlg tpKog, a^avpbv TTV^vfiaroq 0770c 

j^ TwSe TTapa TVjufiiA) St'&o, (piXe, jtiovov. 
Nou S' avrov racpog iar aar/jp' (plyyor yap txtivov 
QsyyuSr) fdovov, wc etKog } eiravXiv i\ Hm 



4 2 4 Herbert's poems. 

Nui; bpdag on KctXXog ctwelpiTOv witbg awavyovg 

Ov aaOpbv, ovdi utXCov eTrAfro, aAAa voog. 
A Oc 8/a gwucltlov TrpoTepov kcu vvv Si 'OAu^ttou 

' A GTQCLTTTljJVy 0uQl8(a)V k)Q Sid, VSLUE (JaXag. 



Mjjrep, yvvaiKiov ayXri, avOpioTrwv Epic, 
'OSvnua AatjLiovbJV, Qwv yewpyiov, 
nd>c vvv atyiTTTacrai, yoov kcl\ klvSvvov 
Huag Xtirovcra kvkXoQev uETmyjxiovg. 
Mcvouvyc <ro(j)ir)v, d 8 1 ct7rr]XXa\0aL ^pfwv, 
Za>fjc £vvs£>70V (ri)vSe StaOuvai tLkvoiq 
E\pr)v (j)vyov(ra, t{\v t Ittkjt^ji^v j3/oi>. 
Mevovv to yXcupvpov, kcil /uzXippoov rpoirwvy 
Aoywv re (piXrpov, umtt vtte^eXQhv Afwv. 
Nvv S' (i)\ov ivytvo tog GTpctTog viKtj(popog 
<PspuJv to 7rav 9 Kayiiiv* 77 vjg AirapKTiag 
K/j7roi> avvu)6(i)v avuivrjv cvwSiav, 
Mlciv t aTapnov avjUTropevecrOai Spaaag. 
'Eya> S'£ pivl £i>ju€aAa>v l^v^XaTio 
E'lttov Tvyoijii TrigcY api(TTr)g ciTpa-ov, 
Oavelv (jwetScog KpeiTTOv, f} aXXtjg j5iovv» 



VfjCLL. 



XaXerrbv Soksl Saicpvc 
XaXeirbv fxlv ov Saicpvaar 
XaXtTTwTtpov Si iravTwv 
AaKpvovrag au~av£aQai. 
Tevlreipav ov Tig iivSpwv 
AiSvuaig icopaiQ ToiavTrjv 

'JL7Tobvp£Tai 7rp£7TOVTlx)g. 

TaXag ; elOe y "Apyog ciijv 
TioXvoppaTog, TroXvrXag, 
"Iva ur]rpog zvOevovcnig 
^AptTag SicAKpiOdaag 
'Iotai£ KOpaiai kXcivgw* 



PARFNTALIA. 425 



AldZto ytvtrEipav, lirauiZov&i Kai dXXoi, 
Ovk W^ Eprjv iciag 0uXrjc ypd\pavTEg apioybv, 
lipovvopioj $' apETi^g noivriv yEvirEipav eX6vte£. 
Ovk evl Oavpa togov G^ErEpt^Eiv' ovSe yap vStvp, 
Ov tyiyyog, koivov T dyaObv, piav E\g uvpav llpytiv 
H 6tpig, r) Svvarov. GEpvwparog ettXeto GTaOprj, 
A^/ulugiov t 'IvSaXpa kciXov, OeIov re KaTonrpov. 

Aia^u) yevireipav, Eiraid^ovGL yvvalKtg, 
Ovk etl (3aXXopEvr)g ycipiGiv j3fj3oXr/julvat r\rop, 
Avrap a\ti pEyaXuj KEvrovpEvaii evte yap avrai 
Tf;£ irtpl gvXXuXeovglv, eov iroiKiXparoc dp$r)v 
\{]fTfiove^ 9 i] fitXovr) (HpaXtpio Krjp rpdvpan vvttu 
'JLpyov a /ma pr j) kv7 a, vtov 7TettXov aijiari gtlktov 
Mr)r£pi TitcTaivovcra, y6(# icac ttevOegl Gvy^povv^ 

Ata£w yevtTEipav, E7raLaZovGiv dirix)pai 9 
Ovk etc SfaTrotyr/c yXvKtpa peXeccovl Tpa^uaai' 
*Hc (iiog rieXioio ciktjv, iiKnvag Hvrog 
Ylpaeig Elapivovg rE -^apalg ETTiKicvan k\}ttov' 
Avrap 6§' aii Odvarog Kvpirig tog riXiog avog 
^isiplov r)rrr}6t\g j3ouX?'jjuao7, iravra papaivtL. 
Zto §' avrbg fipa\v n ttveilov, dig tpiraXtv avri}g 
Alvov bpov Z,d)Eiv Kai irvEvparog a'XXo yEviaQai 
ilvEvpa^ fiiov irdpoSov fiovvoig etteeggl perpriaav. 



Kvpar EiratypiOiovra Oafir)GEog 9 aiKE crtXijw/c 
Qwrbg diravpop(vr)g, oyKOV e^eIgOe ttXeov. 
Nuv Oeplq op(j)vairf p.EydXr]g ettl yEirovog diGX), 

OvXvp.7r6v$E fiifidv vppiv dviGTa/iEvaig, 
'AXXa fiEvelr, ov yap rdpayog ~ot\ jja^ripa fiaiv-p, 

Kat TTpETTOV WOE TTapCL SaKpVOEGGl pEElV. 



426 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



EXCUSSOS manibus calamos, falcemque refump- 
tam 
Rure, fibi dixit Mufa fuiffe probro. 
Aggreditur Matrem (condu&is carmine Parcis) 

Funereque hoc cultum vindicat segra fuum. 
Non potui non ire acri ftimulante flagello : 

Quin matris fuperans carmina pofcit honos. 
Eja, agedum fcribo : vicifti Mufa ; fed audi, 
Stulta femel fcribo, perpetuo ut fileam. 



427 

GEORGII HERBERTI ANGL1 
MUSM RESPONSORI&, 

AD ANDREW MELVINI SCOTI 

Anti-ta?ni-caml-categoriam. 



[Andrew Melvin, or Melvill, a noify and remarkable 
perfon in his own day, was born m 1545, and after 
fpending fome time in Switzerland, returned to England 
with a commendatory letter from Beza. The queftion 
of epifcopal titles in 1578 fanned a flame, which later 
circumftances made dangerous to himfelf. Walton fays : 
" he, being a man of learning, and inclined to fatirical 
poetry had fcattered many malicious, bitter verfes againft 
our liturgy, our ceremonies, and our church government, 
which were by fome of that party (the diflenters), fo 
magnified for the wit, that they were therefore brought 
into Westminfter School, when Mr. George Herbert 
then, and often after, made fuch anfwers to them, and 
fuch reflections on him and his kirk, as might unbeguile 
any man that was not too deeply pre-engaged in fuch a 
quarrel." At an earlier period, Walton had fpoken more 
gently of the polemical Scotchman, as a mafter of wit, 
and among his countrymen only exceeded by Buchanan. 
A more competent critic, Robertfon, praifes his learn- 
ing, his pure manners, and his intrepidity of mind. He 
died in 162 1. Herbert's verfes were collected and pub- 
liihed by Dr. Duport, the Dean of Peterborough. On 
neither lide is the wit or the anger of a very fharp edge; 
and the epigrams of Herbert are the mere sword-play of 
an accomplished fcholar, more anxious to mow his (kill, 
than to wound his opponent.] 



423 



HERBERT S POEMS. 



Pro Supplici 

Evangelicorum Miniftrorum in Anglia, ad Serenijfimum 

Regem Contra larvatam gemincc 

Academics Gorgonem Apologia ; 

SIVE 

ANTI-TAMI-CAMI CATEGORIA, 

Audtore Andrea Melvino. 

Refponfum, non dictum. 



INSOLENS, audax, facinus nefandum. 
Scilicet, (pofcit ratio ut decori, 
f ofcit ex omni officio ut fibi mens 
Confcia re£ti) 

Anxiam Chrifti vigilemque curam, 
Quae pias terris animas relictis 
Sublevans deducit in aftra, uigioque 
Invidet Oreo, 

De facri cafta ratione cultus, 
De Sacro-fancti Officii decoro 
Supplicem ritu veteri libellum 

Porr'gere Regi, 

Simplici mente atque animo integello, 

Spiritu recto, et ftudiis modeitis, 

Numinis fancti veniam, et benigni 

Reo-is honorem 
o 



MUS^E RESPONSORIA:. 429 

Ri:e praefantem : Scclus cxpLindum 
Scilicet taurorum, ovium, fuiimquc 
Millibus centum, voluifle nudo 
Tangere verbo 

Pnefulum faftus ; monuiffe Ritus 
Impios, deridiculos, ineptos 
Lege, ceu labes, maculafque lecta ex 
Gente fugandos. 

Jufque-jurandum ingemuifle jura 
Exigi contra omnia ; turn mifellis 
Mentibus triftem laqueum injici per 
Fafque, nefafque. 

Turbida illimi Crucis in lavacro 
Signa confignem ? magico rotatu 
Verba devolvam ? facra vox facrata im- 
Murmuret unda 



Strigis in morem ? Rationis ufu ad- 
Fabor Infantem vacuum ? canoras 
Ingeram nugas minus audienti 
Di&a puello ? 

Parvulo impoftis manibus facrabo 
Gratias foedus ? digitone Sponfae 
Annulus Sponfi impofitus facrabit 
Connubiale 

Foedus aeternae bonitatis ? Unda 
Num falutari mulier Sacerdos 
Tinget in vitam, Sephoramque reddet 
Luftrica mater ? 



430 HERBEET S POEMS 

Pilei quadrum capiti rotundo 
Rite quadrabit ? Pharium camillo 
Supparum Chrifti, et decus Antichrifti 
Pontificale ? 

Paftor examen gregis exigendum 
Curet invitus, celebrare coenam 
Promptus arcanam, memorando Jefu 
Vulnera dira? 

Cantibus certent Berecynthia aera 
Muficum fractis ? reboentve rauco 
Templa mugitu ? Illecebris fupremi ah 
Re&or Olympi 

Captus humanis ? libitumque nobis, 
Scilicet, Regi id Superum allubefcet ? 
Sommumque aegri cerebri profanum eft 
Dictio facra ? 

Haud fecus luftri Lupa Vaticani 
Romuli faecem bibit, et bibendam 
Porrigit poc'lo, populifque et ipfis 
Regibus aureo. 

Non ita aeterni Witakerus acer 
Luminis vhidex, patriaeque lumen 
Dixit, aut fenfit ; neque celfa fummi 
Penna Renoldi. 

Certa fublimes aperire calles, 
Sueta cceleftes iterare curfus, 
Laeta mifceri niveis beatae 

Civibus aulae ; 



MUSJE RESPONSORI^E. 43 1 

Nec Tami, aut Cami accola faniore 
Mente, qui caelum fapit in frcquenti 
Hermathenaeo, ct celebri Lyceo 
Culta juventus, 

Cujus afFulget genio Jovas lux, 
Cui nitens Sol juftitiae renidet, 
Quern jubar ChrHti radiantis alto 
Spe£tat Olvmpo. 

Bucerum laudem ? memoremque magnum 
Martyrem ? gemmas geminas renati 
Aurei faec'li, duo dura facri 

Fulmina belli ? 

Alterum Camus liquido recurfu, 
Alterum Tamus trepidante lympha 
Audiit, multum ftupuitque magno 
Ore fonantem. 

Anne mulcentem Rhodanum, et Lemanum 
Praedicem Bezam viridi in fenecta ? 
OcSties cujus trepidavit aetas 

Claudere denos 

Solis anfractus, reditufque, et ultra 
Ouinque percurrens fpatiofa in annos 
Longius florem viridantis asvi 

Prorogat et ver. 

Oris erumpit fcatebra perenni 
Amnis exundans, gravidique rores 
Gratia foecunda animos apertis 

Auribus implent. 



43 2 Herbert's poems. 

Major hie omni invidia, et fuperftes 
Millibus mille, et Sadecle, et omnium 
Maximo CALVINO, aliifque veri 
Teftibus aequis \ 

Voce olorina liquidas ad undas 
Nunc canit laudes Genitoris almi 
Carmen, et Nato canit, eliquante 
Numinis aura, 

Senfa de caftu facra puriore, 
Dicla de cultu potiore Sandta, 
Arma quae in caftris jugulent ieveri 
Tramitis hoftes. 

Cana cantanti juga ninguidarum 
Alpium applaudunt, refonantque valles ; 
Jura concentu nemorum fonoro, 
Et pater Ifter 

Confonant longe ; pater et bicornis 
Rhenus afcenfum ingeminat, Garumna, 
Sequana, atque Arar, Liger : infularum et 
Undipotentum 

Magna pars intenta Britannicarum 
Voce confpirat liquida : folumque, 
Et falum, et coelum, ae mula praecinentis 
More, modoque 

Concinunt Bezae numeris, modifque 
Et polo plaudunt ; referuntque leges 
Lege quas fanxit pius ardor, et Rex 
Scoto-britannus. 



% 



MUSJE RESPONSORI^E. 433 

Sicut edictum in tabulis ahenis 
Servat aeternum pia cura Regis 
Qui mare, et terras, variifque mundum 
Temperat horis : 

Cujus sequalis Soboles Parenti 
Gentis electae pater, atque cuftos ; 
Par et ambobus, veniens utrinque 
Spiritus almus ; 

Ouippe Tres-unus Deus ; unus aclus, 
Una natura eft tribus ; una virtus 
Una Majeftas, Deitas et una, 
Gloria et una. 

Una vis immenfa, perennis una 
Vita, lux una, et fapientia una, 
Una mens, una et ratio, una vox, et 
Una voluntas 

Lenis, indulgens, facilis, benigna ; 
Dura, et inclemens, rigida, et fevera ; 
Semper aeterna, omnipotens, et aequa, 
Semper et alma : 

Lucidum cujus fpeculum eft, reflectens 
Aureum vultus jubar, et verendum, 
Virginis proles, fata coelo, et alti In- 
Terpres Olympi : 

Qui Patris mentemque, animumque fancli 
Filius pandit face noctiluca, 
Sive Doctrinae documenta, feu com- 
pendia Vit<e, 

F F 



43+ Herbert's prose works. 

Publics, privae, facra icita Regni 
Regis ad natum referens, Domufque 
Ad voluntatem Domini inftituta 
Singula librans, 

Luce quam Phoebus melior refundit, 
Lege, quam Legum- tulit ipfe -lator, 
Cujus exa£ti officii fuprema eft 

Norma voluntas. 

Coeca mens humana, hominum voluntas 
Prava, et afFe£tus rabidi : indigetque 
Luce mens, norma officii voluntas, 
Lege libido, 

Quifquis hanc furda negat aure, qua fe 
Fundit ubertim liquidas fub auras, 
Ille ter prudens, fapienfque, et omni ex 
Parte beatus. ■ 

Ergo vos Cami proceres, Tamique, 
Quos via flexit malefuadus error, 
Denuo rectum, duce Rege Regum, in- 
Siftite callem. 



Vos metus tangit fi hominum nee ullus, 
At Deum fandi memorem et nefandi 
Vindicem fperate, et amcena folis 
Tartara Diris ; 

Quae manent fontes animas, trucefque 
Paefulum faftus, male quas permit 
Pervigil zelus vigilum, et gregis cu- 
Stodia pern ox. 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 435 

Vefte bis tincta Tyrio fuperbos 
Murice, et paftos dape pinguiore 
Regia quondam aut Saliari inuncta a- 
Bdomine ccena. 

Qualis Urfini, Damaffque faftus 
Turgidus, luxuque ferox, feroque 
Ambitu pugnax, facram et aedem, et urbem 
Caede nefanda 

Civium inceftavit, et omniofum 
Traxit exemplum veniens in aevum 
Praelulum quod nobilium indecorus 
Provocat ordo. 

Quid fames auri facra ? quid cupido 
Ambitu diro fera non propagut 
Pofteris culpae ? mala damna quanta 
Plurima fundit ? 



Pro Difciplina Ecclefiae Noftrae, 
Epigrammata Apologetica. 

Auguftiffimo Potentiffimoque Monarchae Jacobo, 
D. G., Magnae Britanniae, Franciae, et Pliberniae, 
Regi, Fidei Defenfori, etc. Geo. Herbertus. 

ECCE recedentis foecundo in littore Nili 
Sol generat populum luce fovente novum. 
Ante tui, Caefar, quam fulferat aura favoris, 

Noftrae etiam Mufae vile fuere lutum : 

Nunc adeo per te vivunt, ut repere pomnt, 

Sintque aufae thalamum folis adire tui. 

F F 2 



436 Herbert's poems. 

Illuftris : Celfiffimoque Carolo, Walliae, 
et Juventutis Principi. 

kUAM chartam tibi porrigo recentem, 
Humanae decus atque apex juventse, 
OlTTatu placido benignus affles, 
Nam [que] afpectibus e tuis vel unus 
Mordaces tineas, nigrafque blattas, 
Quas Jivor mihi parturit, retundet, 
Ceu, quas culta timet feges, pruinas 
Nafcentes radii fugant, vel acres 
Tantum dulcia leniunt catarrhos. 
Sic 6 te (juvenem, fenemve) credat 
Mors Temper juvenem, fenem Britanni 

3. Reverendiffimo in Chrifto Patri ac Domino, 
Epifcopo Vintonienfi, etc.* 

SANCTE Pater, cceli cuftos, quo dodtius uno 
Terra nihil, nee quo fan&ius aftra vident ; 
Cum mea futilibus numeris fe verba viderent 

Claudi, pene tuas praeteriere fores. 
Sed propere, dextreque reduxit euntia fenfus, 
Ifta docens foli fcripta quadrare tibi. 

Ad Regem. 

Inftituti Epigrammatici Ratio. 
Epigr. 1. 

CUM millena tuam pulfare negotia mentem 
Conftet, et ex ilia pendeat orbis ope ; 
Ne te productis videar laflare Camcenis, 

* Laancelot Andrewes, Bifhop of Winchefter. 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 437 

Pro folido, CAESAR, carmine frufta dabo. 
Ciim tu contundens, Catharos, vultuque librifque, 
Grata mihi menfae funt analecfta tuae. 



Ad Melvinum. 

Epigr. 2. 

NON mea fert aetas, ut te, veterane, lacefTam ; 
Non ut te fuperem : res tamen ipfa feret. 
/Etatis numerum fupplebit caufa minorem • 

Sic tu nunc juvenis factus, egoque fenex. 
Afpice, dum perftas, ut te tua deferat aetas ; 

Et mea fint canis fcripta referta tuis. 
Ecce tamen quam fuavis ero ! cum, fine duelli, 

Clauferit extremas pugna peracta vices, 
Turn tibi, fi placeat, fugientia tempora reddam ; 

Sufficiet votis ifta juventa meis. 



In Monftrum vocabuli Anti-tami-Cami-Categoria. 
Epigr. 3. Ad eundem. 

OQUAM bellus homo es ! lepido quam nomine 
^fingis 

lftas Anti-Tami-Cami-Categorias ! 
Sic Catharis nova fola placent ; res, verba novantur : 

Quae fapiunt aevum, ceu cariofa jacent. 
Quin liceat nobis aliquas procudere voces : 

Non tibi fingendi Tola taberna patet. 
Cum facra perturbet vefter furor omnia, fcriptum 

Hoc erit, Anti-furi-Puri-Categoria. 
Pollubra vel cum olim damnaris Regia in ara, 

Eft Anti-pelvi-Melvi-Categoria. 



4-3*> Herbert's poems. 

Partitio Anti-Tami-Cami-Categoriae. 

TRES video partes, quo re diftinctius utar, 
Anticategoriae, Scoto-Britanne, tuae : 
Ritibus una Sacris opponitur ; altera Sanctos 

Praedicat auctores ; tertia plena Deo eft. 
Poftremis ambabus idem fentimus uterque ; 

Ipfe pios laudo ; Numen et ipfe colo. 
Non nifi prima fuas patiuntur praslia lites. 
O bene quod dubium poilideamus agrum ! 

In metri genus. 

CUR, ubi tot ludat numeris antiqua poefis, 
Sola tibi Sappho, feminaque una placet ? 
Cur tibi tarn facile non arrifere poetae 

Heroum grandi carmina fulta pede ? 
Cur non lugentes Elegi ? non acer Iambus ? 

Commotos animos reitius ifta decent. 
Scilicet hoc vobis proprium, qui purius itis, 

Et populi fpurcas creditis effe vias ; 
Vos ducibus mims, minis doctoribus, omnes 

Femineum blanda fallitis arte genus : 
Nunc etiam teneras quo verfus gratior aures 

Mulceat, imbelles complacuere modi. 

De Larvata Gorgone. 

GORGON A cur diram,larvafque obtrudis inanes, 
Cum prope fit nobis Mufa, Medufa procul ? 
Si, quia felices olim dixere poetae 

Pallada gorgoneam, fie tua verba placent. 
Vel potius liceat diftinguere. Tuque tuique 
Sumite Gorgoneam, noftraque Pallas erit. 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 43Q 

De praefulum faftu. 

PR^ESULIBUS noftris faftus, Melvine, tumentes 
Saepius afpergis. Sifte, pudore vacas. 
An quod femotum populo laquearibus altis 

Eminet, id tumidum protinus effe feres ? 
Ergo etiam Solem dicas, ignave, fuperbum, 

Qui tam fublimi confpicit orbe viam : 
llle tamen, quamvis altus, tua crimina ridens 

Afliduo vilem lumine cingit humum. 
Sic laudandus erit na£tus fublimia Praeful, 

Qui dulci miferos irradiabit ope. 

• 
De Gemina Academia. 

QUIS hie fuperbit, oro ? tune, an Prasfules r 
Quos dente nigro corripis i 
Tu duplicem folus Camaenarum thronum 

Virtute percellis tua ; 
Et unus impar seftimatur viribus, 

Utrumque fternis calcitro : 
Omnefque ftulti audimus, aut hypocritae, 

Te perfpicaci atque integro. 
An rectius nos, fi vices vertas, probi, 

Te contumaci, et Jivido ? 
Quifquis tuetur perfpicillis Belgicis 

Qua parte tra&ari folent, 
Res ampliantur, fin per adverfam viJet, 

Minora fiunt omnia : 
Tu qui fuperbos caeteros exiftimas 

(Superbius cum te nihil) 
Vertas fpecillum : nam, prout fe res habent, 

Vitro minus recl:e uteris. 



44° Herbert's poems. 



De S. Baptifmi ritu. 

CUM tener ad facros infans fiftatur aquales, 
Quod puer ignorat, verba profana putas ? 
Annon fie mercamur agros t quibus ecce Redemptoi 

Comparat aeterni regna beata Dei. 
Scilicet emptorem fi res aut parcior aetas 

Impediant, apices legis amicus obit. 
Forfitan et prohibes infans portetur ad undas, 

Et per fe Templi limen adire velis : 
Sin, Melvine, pedes alienos poftulet infans, 

Cur fie difpliceat vox aliena tibi ? 
RecTiius innocuis lactentibus omnia praeftes, 

Quae ratio per fe, fi fit adulta, facit. 
Quid vetat ut pueri vagitus fuppleat alter, 

Cum nequeat claras ipfe litare preces ? 
Saevus es eripiens parvis vadimonia coeli : 

Et tibi fit nemo praes, ubi pofcis opem. 



De Signaculo Crucis. 

CUR tanta fufflas probra in innocuam Crucem ? 
Non plus maligni daemones Chrifti cruce 
Unquam fugari, quam tui focii folent. 
Apoftolorum culpa non levis fuit 
Vitaffe Chrifti fpiritum efflantis crucem. 
Et Chriftianus quifque pifcis dicitur 
Tertulliano, propter undae pollubrum, 
Ouo tingimur parvi. Ecquis autem brachiis 
Natare fine clariflima poteft cruce ? 
Sed non moramur : namque veftra crux erit, 
Vobis faventibiifve, vel negantibus. 



tr\t 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 44 1 

De Juramento Ecclefiae. 

ARTICULIS facris quidam fubfcribere juffus, 
Ah ! Cheiragra vetat, quo minus, inquit, agam. 
(J vere dictum, et belle ! cum torqueat omnes 
Ordinis ofores aiticulare malum. 

De Purificatione poft puerperium. 

ENIXAS pueros matres fe fiftere templis 
Difplicit, et laudis tura litare Deo. 
Torte quidem, cum per veftras Ecclcfia turbas 

Fludtibus internis exagitata natet, 
Vos fine maternis hymnis infantia vidit, 

Vitaque neglectas eft fatis ulta preces. 
Sed nos, cum nequeat parvorum lingua parentem 

Non laudare Deum, credimus effe nefas. 
Quotidiana fuas pofcant fi fercula grates, 

Noftra caro fancT:ae nefcia laudis erit ? 
Adde piis animis quaevis occafio lucro eft, 

Quae poffint humili fundere corde preces. 
Sic ubi jam mulier decerpti confcia pomi 

Ingemat ob partus, ceu maledicta, fuos, 
Appofite quern commotum fubfugerat olim, 

Nunc redit ad mitem, ceu benedicla, Deum. 



De Antichrifti decore Pontificali. 

NON quia Pontificum funt olim afflata veneno, 
Omnia funt temere projicienda foras. 
Tollantur fi cun£ta malus quae polluit ufus, 
Non remanent nobis corpora, non animae. 



44 2 Herbert's poems. 



De Superpelliceo. 

QUID facrae tandem meruere veftes ? 
Quas malus livor jaculis laceffit 
Polluens caftam chlamydis colorem 

Dentibus atris ? 
Quicquid ex urna meliore ductum 
Luce praeluftri, vel honore pollet, 
Mens fub infigni fpecie colons 

Concipit albi. 
Scilicet taem liquet efie folem; 
Angeli vultu radiante candent ; 
Incolae coeli melioris alba 

Vefte triumphant. 
E creaturis fine mentis ufu 
Conditis binas homini fequendas 
Spiritus proponit, et eft utrique 

Candor amicus. 
Ergo ringantur pietatis hoftes, 
Filii no&is, populus malignus, 
Dum fuum nomen tenet, et triumphat 

Albion albo. 



De Pileo quadrato. 

QXJJE di&eria fuderat Britannus 
Superpellicei tremendus hoftis 5 
llthr^c pileus audiit propinquus, 
Et partem capitis petit fupremam \ 
Non fie effugit angulus vel unus 
Ouo diftis minus acribus notetur. 
Verum heus ! ii reputes, tibi tuifque 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 44:; 

Longe pileus anteit galerum, 
Ut fervor cerebri retrigeretur, 
Qui veftras edit intime medullas. 
Sed qui tarn male pileos habetis, 
Quos Ecclefia comprobat, verendum 
Ne tandem caput ejus impetatis. 



In Catharum. 

CUR Latiam linguam reris nimis effe profanam ? 
Quam pramifla probant fecula, noftra probant ? 
Cur teretem Graecam damnas, atque Hellada totam, 

Qua tamen occifi foedera fcripta Dei ? 
Scilicet Hebraeam cantas, et perftrepis unam : 
Haec facit ad nafum fola loquela tuum. 



De Epifcopis. 

QUOS charos habuit Chriftus Apoftolos, 
Teftatofque fuo tradiderat gregi \ 
IK ium mors rabidis unguibus imminens 
Doclxinae fluvios clauderet aureae, 
Mites acciperent Lampada Praefules, 
Servarentque facrum clavibus ordinem \ 
Hos nunc barbaries impia vellicat 
Indulgens propriis ambitionibus, 
Et quos ipfa nequit fcandere vertices 
Hos ad fe trahere, et mergere geftiens. 
O ccecum populum ! fi bona res fiet 
Praeful, cur renuis ? fin mala, pauculos 
Ouam cunclos fieri praeftat Epifcopos. 



444 Herbert's poems. 

De Iifdem ad Melvinum. 

PIUESULIBUS dirum te Mufa coarguit hoftem, 
An quia Textorer,, Artificefque probas ? 

De Textore Catharo. 

CUM pifcatores Textor legit effe vocatos, 
Ut fan£tum Domini perfequerentur opus ; 
Ille quoque invadit Divinam Flaminis artem, 

Subtegmen reti dignius effe putans, 
Et nunc perlongas Scripturae ftamine telas 
Torquet, et in Textu DocTior utroque cluet. 

De Magicis rctatibus. 

QUOS tu rotatus, quale murmur aufcultas 
In ritibus noftris ? Ego audio nullum. 
Age, provocemus ufque ad Angelos ipfos, 
Aurefque fuperas : arbitri ipfi fint elitis 
Utrum tenore facra noftra fint necne 
iEquabili facta. Ecquid ergo te tanta 
Calumniandi concitavit urtica, 
Ut, quae Papicolis propria, affuas nobis, 
Falfumque potius, quam crepes [vero ?] verfu ? 
Tu perftrepis tamen ; utque turgeat carmen 
Tuum tibi, poeta belle non myites 
Magicos rotatus, et perhorridas Striges, 
Diflteriis mordacibus notans, clamas 
Non convenire precibus ifta Divinis. 
O faevus hoftis ! quam ferociter pugnas ! 
Nihilne refpondebimus tibi ? Fatemur. 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 445 

Ad Fratrcs. 

OSC'LUM lcpidum ! circumftant undique Fratrcs, 
Papicolifque fui flint, CathanTque fui. 
Sic nunc plena boni funt omnia Fratris, amore 
Cum nil fraterno rarius effe queat. 



De labe, maculifque. 

LABECULAS, maculafque nobis objicis, 
Quid ? hoccine eft mirum ? Viatores fumus. 
V<nio fanguis eft Chrifti, nifi ut maculas lavet, 
Ouas fpargit animae corporis propius lutum r 
V os ergo puri ! O nomen appofitiffimum 
Quo vulgus ornat vos ! At audias parum ; 
Aftronomus olim (ut fama) dum maculas diu, 
Quas Luna habet, tuetur, in foveam cadit, 
Totufque caenum Cynthiae ignofcit notis. 
Ecclefia eft mihi Luna ; perge in Fabula. 

De Mufica Sacra. 

CUR efficaci, Deucalion, manu, 
Poft reftitutos fluclibus obices, 
Mutas in humanam figuram 
Saxa fupervacuafque cautes ? 
Quin redde formas, O bone, priftinas, 
Et nos reducas ad lapides avos : 
Nam faxa mirantur canentes, 
Saxa lyras, citharafque callent. 
Rupes tenaces, et filices ferunt 
Potentiori carmine percitas 

Saltus per incultos, lacufque 
Orphea mellifluum fecutas. 



446 Herbert's poems. 

Et faxa diris hifpida montibus 
Amphionis teftitudine nobili 

Percuffa dum currunt ad urbem, 
Maenia contribuere Thebis. 
Tantum repertum eft trux hominum genus, 
Qui templa facris expoliant choris, 
Non erubefcentes vel ipfas 
Duritia fuperare cautes. 
O plena centum Mufica Gratiis, 
Praeclariorum fpirituum cibus, 

Quo me vocas tandem, tuiimque 
Ut celebrem dec us iniufurras ? 
Tu Diva miro pollice fpiritum 
Caeno profani corporis exuens 
Ter millies caelo reponis : 

Aftra rogant, Novus hie quis hofpes. 
Ardore Mofes concitus entheo, 
Merfis revertens laetus ab hoftibus 
Exufcitat plebem facratos 

Ad Dominum properare cantus. 
Quid hocce ? Pfalmos audion' ? O dapes ! 
O fucculenti balfama fpiritus ! 
Ramenta caeli, guttulaeque 
Deciduae meiioris orbis 
Quos David, ipfae deliciee Dei, 
Ingens piorum gloria Principum, 
Sionis excelfas ad arces 

Cum citharis, lituifque mifcet. 
Miratur aequor finitimum fonos, 
Et ipfe Jordan fiftit aquas ftupens ; 
Prae quo Tibris vultum recondit, 
Eridanufque pudore fufus. 
Tun' obdis aures, grex nove, barbaras, 
Et nullus audis ? Cantibus obftrepens, 
Ut, quo fatiges verberefque 
Pulpita, plus fpatii lucreris ? 



c 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 

At cui videri prodigium poteft 
Mcntes, quietis tympana publicae, 
Difcordiis plenas fonoris 

Harmonium tolerare nullam ! 



De eadem. 

ANTUS facros, profane, mugitus vocas ? 
Mugire multo mavelim quam rudere. 



De rituum ufu. 

ClUM primum ratibus fuis 
X Noftram Caefar #d infulam 
Olim appelleret, intuens 
Omnes indigenas loci 
Viventes fine veftibus, 
O vifloria, clamitat, 
Certa, ac perfacilis mihi ! 
Non alio Cathari modo 
Dum fponfam Domini piis 
Orbam ritibus expetunt, 
Atque ad barbariem patrum 
Vellent omnia regredi, 
Illam tegminis infciam 
Prorfus Daemoni, et hoftibus 
Exponunt fuperabilem. 

Atqui vos fecus, O boni, 
Sentire fapere addecet, 
Si veftros animos regant 
Scripturae canones facrae : 



447 



44-8 Herbert's poems. 

Namque haec, jure, cuipiam 
Veftem non adimi fuam, 
Sed nudis et egentibus 
Non fuam tribui jubet. 



De annulo conjugali. 

SED nee conjugii fignum, Melvine, probabis ? 
Nee vel tantillum pignus habebit amor ? 
Nulla tibi fi figna placent, e nubibus arcum 

Eripe caelefti qui moderatur aquae. 
Ilia quidem a noftro non multum abludit imago, 

Annulus et plenus tempore forfan erit. 
Sin nebulis parcas, et noftro parcito figno, 

Cui non abfimilis fenfus inefle folet. 
Scilicet, ut quos ante fuas cum conjuge tedas 

Merferat in luftris perniciofa Venus, 
Annulus hos revocet, fiftatque libidinis undas 

Legitimi fignum connubiale tori. 



De mundis et mundanis. 

EX praelio undae ignifque (fi Phyficis fides) 
tranquillus aer nafcitur : 
bic ex profano Cofmico et Catharo poteft 
Chriftianus exLtundi bonus. 



De oratione Dominica. 

QUAM Chriftus immortalis innocuo gregi 
Voce fua dederat, 

Quis crederet mortalibus 
Orationem rejici feptemplicem, 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 449 

Quae miferis clypeo 
Ajacis eft praeftantior ? 
Haec verba, fuperos advolaturus thronos 
Chriftus, ut auxilii 

Nos haud inanes linqueret, 
(Cum dignius nil poflet aut melius dare) 
Pignora chara fui 

Fruenda nobis tradidit. 
Ouis fie amicum excipiet, ut Cathari Deum, 
Qui renovare facri 

Audent amoris Symbolum ? 
Tu vero quifquis es, cave, ne dum neges 
improbe verba Dei, 

Te deneget VERBUM Deus. 



In Catharum quendam. 

CUM templis effare, madent fudaria, mappae, 
Trux caper alarum, fuppara, laena, fagum. 
Ouin populo, clemens, aliquid largire caloris : 
Nunc fudas folus -> caetera turba riget. 



De lupa luftri Vaticani. 

CALUMNIARUM nee pudor quis nee modus. 
Nee Vaticanae defines unquam Lupae ? 
Metus inanes ! Nos pari praetervehi 
Ulam Charybdim cautione novimus 
Veftramque Scyllam, aequis parati fpiculis 
Britannicam in Vulpem, inque Romanam Lupam. 
Di&i fidem firmabimus Anagrammate. 

G G 



450 HERBERT S POEMS. 

Roma dabit Oram, Maro, Ramo, Armo, Mora, 
et Amor. 






ROMA, tuum nomen quam non pertranfiit Oram, 
Cum Latium ferrent fecula prifca jugum ? 
IN on deerat vel fama tibi, vel carmina famae, 

Unde Maro laudes duxit ad Aftra tuas. 
At nunc exfucco fimilis tua gloria Ramo 

A veteri trunco et nobilitate cadit. 
Laus antiqua et honor perierunt, te velut Armo 

Jam deturbarunt tempora longa fuo. 
Quin tibi jam defperatae Mora nulla medetur ; 

Qua Fabio quondam fub duce nata falus. 
Hinc te olim Gentes miratae odere viciflim ; 

Et cum fublata laude recedit Amor. 



De Impofitione manuum. 

NEC dextra te fugit almi Amoris emblema ? 
Atqui manus imponere integras praeftat, 
Quam (more veftro) imponere infcio vulgo. 
Quanto Impofitio melior eft Impoftura ! 



Supplicum Miniftrorum Raptus. 

Kwju^>Sov^u£voc* 

AMBITIO Cathari quinque conftat A6tibus. 
Prima, unus aut alter parum ritus placet. 
Jam repit impietas volatura illico. 

II. Mox difplicent omnes. Ubi hoc permanferit 

III. Paulo, fecretis muffitans in angulis 
Quaerit receflus. Incalefcit fabula, 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 45 j 

IV. Erumpit inde, et continere nefcius 

V. Sylvas pererrat. Fibulis dein omnibus 
Prae fpiritu ruptis, quo eas refarciat 
Amftellodamum corripit fe. Plaudite. 

De Auctorum enumeratione. 

QUO magis invidiam nobis, et crimina confles, 
Pertrahis in partes nomina magna tuas ; 
ivJL.iLyra, Calvinum, Bezam, doctumque Bucerum, 

Qui tamen in noftros fortiter ire negant. 
Whitaker, erranti quern praefers carmine, miles 

Afliduus noftrae papilionis erat. 
Nos quoque poffemus longas confcribere turmas, 

Si numero ftarent praelia, non animis. 
Primus adeft nobis, Pharifaeis omnibus hoftis, 

Chriftus Apoftolici cinctus amore gregis. 
Tu geminas belli portas, O Petre, repandis, 

Dum gladium ftringens Paulus ad arma vocat. 
Inde Patres pergunt quadrati, et tota Vetuftas. 

Nempe Novatores quis Veteranus amat ? 
Jam Conftantinus multo fe milite mifcet ; 

Invifamque tuis erigit hafta Crucem. 
Hipponenfis adeft properans, et torquet in hoftes 

Lampada, qua ftudiis invigilare folet. 
Teque Deum alternis cantans Ambrofius iram, 

Immemor antiqui mellis, eundo coquit. 
Haec etiam ad pugnam praefens, qua vivimus, aetas 

Innumeram noftris partibus addit opem. 
Ouos inter plenufque Deo, genioque Jacobus 

Defendit veram mente manuque fidem. 
Interea ad facrum ftimulat facra Mufica bellum, 

Qua fine vos miferi lentius itis ope. 
Militat et nobis, quern vos contemnitis, Ordo % 
Ordine difcerni maxima bella folent. 

GG 2 



45 2 HERBERTS POEMS. 

O vos invalidos ! Audi quern talibus armis 
Eventum Nafo vidit et admonuit ; 

Una dies Catharos ad bellum miferat omnes : 
Ad bellum miflbs perdidit una dies. 

De auri facra fame. 






CLAUDIS avaritia Satyram ; ftatuifque facrorum 
EfTe recidendas, iEace nofter, opes, 
Caetera condonabo tibi, fcombnfque remittam : 
Sacrilegum carmen, cenfeo, flamma voret. 



Ad Scotiam protrepticon ad Pacem. 

SCOTIA, quae frigente jaces porrefta fub Ar£to, 
Cur adeo immodica religione cales ? 
Anne tuas flammas ipfa Antiperiftafis auget, 

Ut nive torpentes incaluere manus ? 
Aut ut pruna gelu fummo mordacius urit, 

Sic acuunt zelum frigora tanta tuum ? 
Ouin nocuas extingue faces, precor : unda propinqua 

. eft >. . 

Et tibi vicinas porrigit aequor aquas ; 
Aut potius Chrifti fanguis demiffus ab alto, 

Vicinufque magis nobiliorque fluit : 
Ne, fi flamma novis adolefcat mota flabellis, 

Ante diem veftro mundus ab igne ruat. 



Ad fedu&os innocentes. 

INNOCUiE mentes, quibus inter flumina mundi 
Ducitur illimi Candida vita fide, 
Abfit ut ingenuum pungant mea verba pudorem ; 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOCETICA. 45? 

Perftringunt veftros carmine fola duces. 
Outinam aut illorum oculi (quod comprecor unum) 
Vebis, aut illis pectora veftra forent. 



Ad Melvinum. 

ATQUI te precor unice per ipfam, 
Quae fcripfit numeros, manum ; per omncs 
Muiarum calices, per et beatos 
Sarcafmos quibus artifex triumphas ; 
Ouin per Prefbyteros tuos ; per urbem 
Guam curto nequeo referre verfu ; 
Per charas tibi, nobilefque dextras, 
Ouas fubfcriptio neutiquam inquinavit ; 
Per quicquid tibi fuaviter probatur ; 
Ne me carminibus nimis dicacem, 
Aut faevum reputes. Arnica noftra eft 
Atque edentula Mufa, nee veneno 
Splenis perlita contumeliofi. 

Nam fi te cuperem fecare verfu, 
Totamque evomerem potenter iram 
Ouam aut Ecclefia defpicata vobis, 
Aut laefae mihi fuggerunt Athenae, 
(Et quern non ftimularet haec fimultas) 
Jam te funditus igneis Camoenis, 
Et Mufa crepitante fubruiffem : 
Omnis linea fepiam recufans 
Plumbo ducta fuiffet aeftuanti, 
Centum ftigmatibus tuos inurens 
Profanos fremitus bonafque fannas : 
Plus charta haec mea delibuta diftis 
Haefiflet tibi, quam fuprema veftis 
Olim accreverit Herculi furenti : 
Ouin hoc carmine lexicon probrorum 



454 Herbert's poems. 

Extruxiflem, ubi, cum moneret ufus, 
Haurirent tibi tota plauftra Mufae. 

Nunc haec omnia fuftuli, tonantes 
AfFectus fociis tuis remittens. 
Non te carmine turbidum vocavi, 
Non deridiculumve, five ineptum, 
Non ftriges, magiamve, vel rotatus, 
Non faftus tibi turgidos repono ; 
Errores, maculas, fuperbiamque, 
Labes, fomniaque, ambitufque diros, 
Tinnitus Berecynthios omittens 
Nil horum regero tibi merenti. 

Quin te laudibus orno : quippe dico, 
Caefar fobrius ad rei Latinae 
Unus dicitur advenire cladem : 
Et tu folus ad Angliae procellas 
(Cum plerumque tua fodalitate 
Nil fit crailius, impolitiiifve) 
Accedis bene docTius, et poeta. 



I 



Ad eundem. 

NCIPIS irridens ; ftomachans in carmine pergis j 
Definis exclamans : Tota figura, vale. 



Ad Seren. Regem. 



ECCE pererratas, regum doctiffirue, nugas, 
Ouas gens inconfulta, fuis vexata procellis, 
Libandas nobis, abforbendafque propinat ! 
O caecos animi fratres ! quis veftra fatigat 
Corda furor, fpiffaque afflat caligine fenfus ? 



EPIGRAMMATA APOLOGETICA. 455 

Cernite, quam formofa fuas Ecclefia pennas 
Explicat, et radiis ipfum pertingit Olympum ! 
Vicini populi paflim mirantur, et aequos 
Mentibus attonitis cupiunt addifcere ritus : 
Angelicae turmae noftris fe caetibus addunt : 
Ipfe etiam Chriflus coelo fpeculatus ab alto 
Intuituque uno ftringens habitacula mundi, 
Sola mini plenos, ait, exhibet Anglia cultus. 
Scilicet has olim divifas aequore terras 
Sepofuit Divina fibi, cum conderet orbem, 
Progenies gemmamque fua quafi pyxide claufit. 

O qui Defenfor Fidei meritifiimus audis, 
Refponde aeternum titulo ; quoque ordine felix 
Ccepifti, pergas fimili res texere filo. 
Obrue ferventes, ruptis conatibus, hoftes : 
Ouafque habet aut patulas, aut caeco tramite, moles 
Haereiis, evertas. Quid enim te fallere poflit ? 
Tu venas, laticefque omnes quos facra recludit 
Pagina, guftafti, multoque interprete gaudes : 
Tu Synodofque, Patrefque, et quod dedit alta vetuftas 
Haud per te moritura, Scholamque introfpicis omnem. 
Nee tranfire licet quo mentis acumine findis 
Vifcera naturae, commiftufque omnibus aftris 
Ante tuum tempus ccelum gratiflimus ambis. 
Hac ope munitus fecurior excipis undas, 
Ouas Latii, Cathanque movent, atque inter utrafque 
Paftor agis proprios, medio tutiffimus, agnos. 

Perge, decus Regum ; fie, AuguftiiEme, plures 
Sint tibi vel ftellis laudes, et laudibus anni : 
Sic pulfare tuas, exclufis luctibus, aufint 
Gaudia fola fores : fie quicquid fomnia mentis 
Intus agunt, habeat certum meditatio finem ; 
Sic pofitis nugis, quibus irretita libido 
Innumeros mergit vitiata mente poetas, 
Sola Jacobaeum decantent carmina nomen. 



456 Herbert's poems. 

Ad Deum. 

QUEM tu, fumme Deus, femel 
Scribentem placido rore beaveris, 

Ilium non labor irritus 
Exercet miferum ; non dolor unguium 

Morfus increpat anxios ; 
Non maeret calamus ; non queritur caput : 

Sed foecunda poefew^ 
Vis, et vena facris regnat in artubus 

Qualis nefcius aggerum 
Exundat fluvio Nilus amabili. 

O dulciflime fpiritus, 
Sanctos qui gemitus mentibus inferis 

A Te Turture defluos, 
Quod fcribo, et placeo, fi placeo, tuum eft. 



INVENTA BELLICA. 

E MSTO. AUTOG. 

OH Mortis longaeva fames, venterque perennis ! 
Quern non Emathius torrens, non fanguine pin- 
guis 
Daunia, non fatiat bis ter millefima caedis 
Progenies, mundique aetas abdomine tanto 
Ingluvieque minor. Quercus habitare feruntur 
Prifci, crefcentefque una cum prole cavernas ; 
Hinc tamen excludi mors noluit, ipfaque vitam 
Glans dedit, et truncus tectum, et ramalia mortem. 
Confluere interea paflim ad Floralia pubes 
Coeperat, agricolis mentemque et aratra folutis. 
Compita fervefcunt pedibus, clamoribus aether. 
Hie ubi difcumbunt per gramina, falfior unus 



INVENTA BELLICA. 457 

Omnia fufpendit nafo, fociofque laceflit : 
Non fert Ucalegon, atque amentata retorquet 
Di£ta ferox, hoerent lateri convitia fixo. 
Scinditur in partes vulgus ceu compita, telum 
Ira facit, mundufque ipfe eft apotheca furoris, 
Liber alit rixas, potantibus omnia bina 
Sunt praeter vitam : faxis hie fternitur, alter 
Ambuftis fudibus, pars vitam in pocula fundunt, 
Bacchantur Lapithae, furit inconftantia vini, 
Sanguine quern dederat fpolians : primordia belli 
Haec fuerant, fie Tifiphone virguncula lufit. 

Non placuit rudis atque ignara occifio, morti 
Quaeritur ingenium, do&ufque homicida probatur. 
Hinc tyrocinium, parvoque affueta juventus, 
Fictaque Bellona, et verae ludibria pugnae, 
Inftruclaeque acies, hyernefque in pellibus aclae. 
Omniaque haec ut tranfadigant fine crimine coftas 
Artificefque necis clueant et mortis alumni. 
Nempe et millenos ad palum interficit hoftes 
Affiduus tyro, fi fit fpedtanda voluntas. 
O fuperi ! quis tantum ipfis virtutibus inftat, 
Ouantum caedi ? adeone unam nos vivere vitam, 
Perdere fexcentas ? crefcet tamen hydra nocendi 
Triftis, ubi ac ferrum tellure reciditur ima, 
Foecundufque chalybs fceleris, jam fanguine tinctus, 
Expleri nequit, at totum depafcitur orbem. 
Quid memorem tormenta, quibus prius horruit aevum, 
Baliftafque, Onagrofque, et quicquid Scorpio faevus 
Vel Catapulta poteft, Siculique inventa magiftri, 
Angligenumque arces, gaudentes fanguine Galli 
Fuftibales, fundafque quibus cum numine fretus 
Stravit Idumaeum divinus Tityrus hoftem. 

Adde etiam currus et cum temone Britanno 
Arviragum, falcefque obftantia quaeque metentes. 
Ouin aries ruit et multa Demetrius arte, 



458 Herbert's poems. 

Sic olim cecidere. 

Deerat adhuc vitiis noftris digniiftma mundo 
Machina, quam nullum fatis execrabitur aevum \ 
Liquitur ardenti candens fornace metallum, 
Fufaque decurrit notis aqua ferrea fulcis : 
Exoritur tubus, atque inftar Cyclopis Homeri, 
Lufcum prodigium, medioque foramine gaudens ! 
Inde rotae atque axis fubeunt, quafi fella curulis, 
Qua mors ipfa fedens hominum de gente triumphat. 
Accedit Pyrius pulvis laquearibus Orci 
Exulis, Infernae pretiofa tragemata menfae, 
Sulphureaque lacu, totaque imbuta Mephiti. 
Hinc glans adjicitur, non quam rucTiare vetuftas 
Creditur, ante fatas prono cum vertice fruges. 
Plumbea glans, livenfque fuae quafi confcia noxae, 
Purpureus lictor Plutonis, epiftola fati. 
Plumbis obfignata, colofque et ftamina vitae 
Perrumpens, Atropi vetulae marcentibus ulnis. 
Haec ubi vincta, fubit vivo cum fune minifter, 
Fatalemque levans dextram, qua ftupeus ignis 
Mulcetur vento, accendit cum fomite partem 
Pulveris inferni, properat, datur ignis, et omnem 
Materiam vexat, nee jam fe continet antro 
Tifiphone, flamma et fallaci fulmine cinema ; 
Evolat, horrendumque ciet bacchata fragorem. 
It ftridor, caelofque omnes et Tartara findit. 
Non jam exaudiri quidquam vel mufica fphaerae 
Vel gemitus Erebi, piceo fe turbine voivens, 
Totamque eructans nubem glans proruit imo 
Precipitata, cadunt urbes formidine, muri 
Diffugiunt, fragilifque crepant coenacula mundi. 
Strata jacent toto millena cadavera campo, 
Uno icStu ; non fie peftis, non ftella maligno 
Afflatu perimunt. En Cymba Cocytia turbis 
Ingemit, et defeffus opem jam portitor orat. 
Nee glans fola nocet, mortem quandoque fufurrat 



ALIA POEMATA LATINA. 459 

Aura volans, vitamque aer quam paverat, aufcrt. 
Dicite vos, Furiae ! qua gaudet origine monftrum ? 
Nox i^Etnam, no&emque Chaos genuere priores, 
-/Etna Cacum ignivomum dedit, hie Ixiona Graecis 
Cantatum, deinde Ixion cum nubibus atris 
Congrediens genuit monachum, qui limen opacae 
Trifte colens fellae, no£tuque et Daemone plenum 
Protulit horrendum hoc primum cumpulvere monftrum. 
Ouis monachos mortem meditari, et pulvere trifti 
Verfatos neget : atque humiles queis talia cordi 
Tarn demifta, ipfamque adeo fubeuntia terram ? 

Nee tamen hie mortis rabies ftetit ; exilit omni 
Tormento pejor Jefuita, et fulminat orbem, 
Ridens bombardas miferas, quae corpora perdunt 
Non animas ; raroque ornantur fanguine regum 
Obftreperae ftulto fonito, crimenque fatentes. 
Siftimus hie, inquit fatum, fat prata biberunt 
Sanguinis, innocuum tandem luet orbis Abelum. 

G. Herberte 



ALIA POEMATA LATINA. 

Ad auctorem Inftaurationis magnae. 
[franciscum bacon.] 

PER ftrages licet auclorum veterumque ruinam 
Ad famae properes vera Tropaea tuae, 
Tarn nitide tamen occidis, tarn fuaviter hoftes, 

Se quafi donatum funere quifque putat. 
Scilicet apponit pretium tua dextera fato, 

Vulnereque emanat fanguis, ut intret honos. 
O quam felices funt, qui tua caftra fequuntur, 
Cum per te fit res ambitiofa mori. 



4^° Herbert's poems. 

In honorem illuftriffimi Domini Francifci de Veru 
lamio Vice-Comitis Sti. Albani. 

POST EDITAM AB EO INSTAUR. MAGNUM. 

QUIS ifte tandem ? non eni m Vultu ambulat 
Ouotidiano. Nefcis, ignare ? audies. 
Dux Notionum ; Veritatis Pontifex ; 
Indu&ionis Dominus ; Et Verulamii ; 
Rerum Magifter Unicus, at non Artium : 
Profunditatis Pinus, atque Elegantiae ; 
Naturae Arufpex intimus ; Phiiofophiae 
/Erarium, Sequefter Experientiae, 
Speculationifque ; iEquitatis Signifer ; 
Scientiarum fub pupillari ftatu 
Degentium olim Emancipator ; Luminis 
Promus : Fugator Idolum, atque Nubium : 
Collega Solis : Quadra Certitudinis : 
Sophifmatum Maftix ; Brutus Literarius, 
Authoritatis exuens Tyrannidem : 
Rationis et Senfus Stupendus Arbiter ? 
Repumicator mentis : Atlas Phyficus, 
Alcide fuccumbente Stagiritico ; 
Columba Noae, quae in vetuftate Artibus 
Nullum locum requiemque cernens, praeftitit 
Ad fe fuumque Matris, Arcam regredi. 
Subtilitatis terebra ; Temporis nepos 
Ex veritate Matre ; Mellis Alveus ; 
Mundique et Animarum Sacerdos Unicus ; 
Securifque Errorum ; inque Natalibus 
Granum Sinapis, acre aliis, Crefcens fibi ; 
O me prope Laffum ! Juvate Pofteri. 

Geor. Herbert. Orat. Pub. in 
Academ. Cantab. 






ALIA POEMATA LATINA. 461 

In obitum incomparabilis Francisci Vice-Comitis 
Sancti Albani, Baronis Verulamii. 

DUM longi lentfque gemis fub pondere morbi, 
Atque haeret dubio tabida vita pede ; 
Quid voiuit prudens Fatum, jam fentio tandem : 

Conftat, Aprile uno te potuiffe mori : 
Ut Flos hinc lacrymis, Mine Philomela querelis, 
Deducant linguae funera fola tuae. 



Comparatio inter munus fummi Cancellariatus 
et Librum. 

MUNERE dum nobis prodes, Libroque futuris, 
In laudes abeunt faecula quaeque tuas ; 
Munere dum nobis prodes, Libroque remotis, 

In laudes abeunt jam loca quaeque tuas : 
Hae tibi funt alae laudum. Cui contigit unquam 
Longius aeterno, latius orbe decus ? 

iEthiopifla ambit Ceftum diverfi coloris virum. 

QUID mihi fi facies nigra eft ? hoc, Cefte, colore 
Sunt etiam tenebrae, quas tamen optat amor. 
(J en us ut exufta Temper fit fronte viator ; 

Ah longum, quae te deperit, errat iter. 
Si nigro fit terra folo, quis defpicit arvum ? 

Claude oculos, et erunt omnia nigra tibi : 
Aut aperi, et cernes corpus quas projicit umbras ; 

Hoc faltem officio fungar amore tui. 
Cum mihi fit facies fumus, quas pectore flammas 

Jamdudum tacite delituiffe putes ? 
Dure, negas ? O fata mihi praefaga doloris, 

Quae mihi lugubres contribuere genas ! 



462 Herbert's poems. 



In Natales et Pafcha concurrentes. 

CUM tu, Chrifte, cadis, nafcor ; mentemque ligavit 
Una meam membris horula, teque cruci. 
O me difparibus natum cum numine fatis ! 

Cur mihi das vitam, quam tibi, Chrifte, negas ? 
Qiiin moriar tecum : vitam, quam negligis ipfe, 

Accipe ; ni talem des, tibi qualis erat. 
Hoc mihi legatum trifti fi funere praeftes, 

Chrifte, duplex flet mors tua vita mihi : 
Atque ibi per te fanctificer natalibus ipfis, 

In vitam, et nervos Pafcha coasva fluet. 



Ad Johannem Donne, D.D. 

DE UNO SIGILLORUM EJUS, ANCHORA ET CHRISTO. 

QUOD crux nequibat fixa, clavique additi 
(Tenere Chriftum fcilicet, ne afcenderet) 
Tui^e Chriftum devocans facundia 
Ultra loquendi tempus ; addit Anchora : 
Nee hoc abunde eft tibi, nifi certae Anchorae 
Addas Sigillum : nempe fymbolum fuae 
Tibi dedit unda et terra certitudinis 

Quondam feffus amor loquens amato, 
Tot et tanta loquens arnica ; fcripfit 
Tandem et feffa manus, dedit Sigillum. 

Suavis erat, qui fcripta, dolens, lacerando reeludi 
Sanctius in regno magni credebat amoris 
(In quo fas nihil eft rumpi) donare Sigillum. 

Munde, fluas fugiafque licet, nos noftraque fixi 
Deridet motus fan&a Catena tuos. 



ALIA POEMATA LATINA. 465 

In Obitum Sereniflimae Reginae Annae. 
(e lachrymis cantabrigiensibus.) 

QUO te, felix Anna, modo deflere licebit ? 
Cui magnum imperium, gloria major erat : 
i^ccvi meus torpens animus fuccumbit utrique, 
Cui tenuis fama eft, ingeniumque minus. 
Qiiis, nifi qui manibus Briareus, oculifque fit Argus, 

Scribere te dignum vel lacrymare queat ? 
Fruftra igitur fudo ; fupereft mihi fola voluptas, 

Ouod calamum excufent Pontus et Aflra meum : 
Namque Annae laudes coelo fcribuntur aperto, 

Sed lu&us nofter fcribitur Oceano. 

In Obitum Henrici Principis Walliae. 
(ex epicedio cantabrigiensi.) 

ITE leves (inquam), Parnaflia numina, mufae ! 
Non ego vos pofthac, hederae velatus amicl:u, 
homnis nefcio queis nodturna ad vota vocabo : 
Sed nee Cirrhaei faltus, Libethriave arva 
In mea dicta ruant ; non tarn mihi pendula mens eft, 
Sic quafi Diis certem, magnos accerfere montes ; 
Nee vaga de fummo deducam flumina monte, 
Qualia parturiente colunt fub rupe forores : 
Si quas mens agitet moles (dum pectora faevo 
Tota ftupent luctu) lacrymifque exaeftuet aequis 
Spiritus, hi mihi jam montes, hasc flumina funto : 
Mufa, vale ! et tu, Phoebe ! dolor mea carmina diclet; 
Hinc mihi principium : vos, o labentia mentis 
Lumina, nutantes paullatim acquirite vires, 
Vivite, dum mortem oftendam : fie tempora veftram 
Non comedant famam, fie nulla oblivia potent. 



464 Herbert's poems. 

Quare age, mens ! effare, precor, quo numine laefo ? 
Quae fuberant caufae ? quid nos committere tantum, 
Quod non lanigerae pecudes, non agmina luftrent ? 
Annon longa fames, miferaeque injuria peftis 
Poena minor fuerat, quam fatum rrincipis aegrum ? 
Jam felix Philomela, et menti confcia Dido ! 
Felices quos bella premunt et plurimus enfis ! 
Non metuunt ultra ; noftra infortunia tantum 
Fataque, Fortunafque et fpem laefere futuram. 
Quod fi fata illi longam invidere falutem 
Et patrio regno (fub quo jam Principe nobis 
Quid fperare, immo quid non fperare licebat ?) 
Debuit ifta pati prima et non nobilis aetas : 
Aut cita mors eft danda bonis aut longa fenectus. 
Sic laetare animos et fie oftendere gemmam 
Excitat optatus avidos, et ventilat ignem. 
Quare etiam nuper Pyrii de pulveris ictu 
Principis innocuam fervaftis numina vitam 
Ut morbi perimant, alioque in pulvere proftet. 
Phoebe, tui puduit, quum fummo mane redires, 
Sol fine fole tuo ! quum te turn nubibus atris 
Totum offufcari peteres, ut nocte filenti 
Humana aeternos agerent praecordia queftus 
Tantum etenim veftras, Parcae, non flectit habenas 
Tempus edax rerum, tuque o mors improba fola es 
Cui caecas tribuit vires annofa vetuftas ! 
Quid non mutatum eft ? requierunt flumina curfus : 
Plus etiam veteres coelum videre remotum : 
Cur ideo verbis trifles effundere curas 
Expeto, tanquam haec fie noftri midecina doloris ? 
Immodicus luctus tacito vorat igne medullas, 
Ut fluvio currente, vadum fonat, alta quiefcunt. 



I 



ALIA POEMATA LATINA. 4.65 

NNUPTA Pallas, nata Diefpatrc ! 
iEterna fummae gloria regiae ! 
Cui dulcis arrident camcenae 
Pieridis Latiaeque Muiae. 



Cur tela mortis, vel tibi, vel tuis 
Ouacunque gutta temporis imminent ? 
Tantaque propendet ftatera 

Regula fanguinolenta fati ? 

Numne Hydra talis tantaque bellua eft 
Mors tot virorum fordida fanguine, 
Ut mucro rumpatur Minervae 
Utque minax fuperetur iEgis ? 

Tu fledHs amnes, tu mare caerulum 
Uflifle prono fulmine diceris, 
Ajacis exefas triemes 

Praecipitans graviore cafu. 

Tu difcidifti Gorgoneas manus 
Nexas, capillos anguibus oblitos, 
Furvofque vicifti Gigantem 

Enceladum, pharetramque Rhoeci. 

Ceu vifta, mufis porrigit herbulas 
Pennata caeci dextra cupidinis, 
Non ulla Bellonae furentis 
Arma tui metuunt alumni. 

Pallas retortis caefia vocibus 
Refpondit ; Eia ! ne metuas, precor, 
Nam fata non juftis repugnant 
Principibus, fed arnica fiunt. 

H H 



466 HERBERT'S POEMS. 

Ut fi reciiis arboribus meis 
Nudetur illic locus amabilis, 

Fructufque poft mortem recufent 
Perpetuos mini ferre rami. 

Dulcem rependent turn mihi tibiam 
Pulchre renatam ex arbore mortua, 
Dignamque coelefti corona 
Harmoniam dabit inter aftra. 



E. Mfro. Autog. 



CUM petit Infantem Princeps, Grantamque Jacobu.; 
Quifnam horum major fit, dubitatur, amor ? 
Vincit more fuo Nofter : nam millibus Infans 
Non tot abeft, quot nos Regis ab ingenio. 






V 



E. Mfto. Autog. 

ERO verius ergo quid fit, \ adi 
Verum, Gallice, non Jibf er audis. 






